Schizophrenia is the second leading risk factor for death from Covid-19 after old age, according to new research.
The mental health condition nearly triples the risk of dying from Covid-19 compared to a healthy person between the ages of 18 and 44.
The only group of people at higher risk of death than people with schizophrenia are the elderly who, regardless of comorbidities, are much more likely to die.
Scientists still do not fully understand why people with schizophrenia are at higher risk, but believe it may be due to a genetic defect that inhibits their immune response.
People with schizophrenia tend to live, on average, up to two decades less than people without mental health problems and also suffer from an increase in the disease as a result of lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and side effects of some medications for schizophrenia.
Other conditions that increase the risk of death are heart failure (60% increase), high blood pressure (38%) and diabetes (27%).
It was found that men had a 69% higher risk of death than women and non-white people (blacks, Asians, mixed race) had a 47% higher risk compared to whites.
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The mental health condition nearly triples the risk of dying from Covid-19 compared to a healthy person between the ages of 18 and 44. Other conditions that increase the risk of death are heart failure (60% increase), high blood pressure (38). percent) and diabetes (27 percent)
Researchers at New York University studied anonymous health records of more than 7,000 hospitalized Covid-19 patients between March and May 2020, 75 of whom had been medically diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Mortality was defined as death or discharge from the hospice within 45 days of a positive coronavirus test result.
“Our findings illustrate that people with schizophrenia are extremely vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19,” says the study’s lead author, Dr. Katlyn Nemani.
“With this new understanding, health care providers can better prioritize vaccine distribution, testing, and health care for this group.”
Professor Shon Lewis of the University of Manchester, who did not take part in the study, said: “It is a good robust study with important findings.
“We have known for a long time that people with schizophrenia in the UK have a reduced life expectancy of 18 to 20 years compared to the general population.
“This terrible statistic is mainly due to rising rates of cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic diseases resulting from lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and the side effects of some medications in people with schizophrenia.
“This latest discovery makes it clear that good preventive care now needs to be urgently focused on this incredibly vulnerable and disadvantaged population. It should be prioritized immediately for vaccination.”
Currently, the UK Joint Vaccination and Vaccination Committee has prioritized all people over the age of 50, as well as health workers and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, who are in the fourth priority strip ahead of those over the age of 65.
This group includes people with “severe mental illness,” who currently do not appear to be clinically extremely vulnerable, as people with this condition have no priority when it comes to receiving the vaccine.
The clinically extremely vulnerable group includes chronic kidney disease and diabetes, which confer a Covid risk of death 1.23 and 1.27 times respectively. The figure for schizophrenia is 2.67.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “The list of conditions used to identify people who may be clinically extremely vulnerable is agreed by the four top medical officers in the UK and reflects the latest available evidence.
“NHS doctors can add any patient to the list of armored patients, based on their own clinical judgment and an unbiased assessment of their needs.”
The priority group of clinically extremely vulnerable vaccines includes people with chronic kidney disease and diabetes, who were found to have 1.23 and 1.27 more at risk of death from Covid than a healthy person. The figure of 2.67 of schizophrenia (stock) the dwarf voice.
Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The deadly consequences of Covid-19 on people living with schizophrenia are deeply worrying and should serve as a catalyst to ensure that this group of people in risk they are offered the vaccine at the first opportunity.
“People living in the community should receive support throughout the vaccination process, while people in mental health wards or residential settings should not be forgotten or left behind.
“People living with severe mental illness already die on average 20 years earlier than the general population. The government must do everything it can to protect people living with severe mental illness, intellectual disability and dementia from Covid-19.
Although people with schizophrenia were found to have a much higher risk of death, people with anxiety and mood disorders did not.
Researchers say this indicates that there may be an unknown underlying mechanism that puts people with schizophrenia at high risk.
Dr. Nemani says it may be an immune system disorder, possibly linked to the disorder’s genetics.
“Now that we have a better understanding of the disease, we can further examine what immune system problems may contribute to the high mortality rate observed in these patients with schizophrenia,” says author Donald Goff, lead author of the study at Langone University in New York. .
Stephen Buckley, Mind’s chief information officer, said: “While we welcome research into the links between serious mental health issues and Covid19, much more robust research is needed around the world, including the UK.
“Research leading to improved health outcomes and quality of life for people with mental health problems is welcomed.
“It has never been more important for people with mental health problems to get the support they need and deserve.
“Anyone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who is concerned about the impact the coronavirus may have on their health should talk to their doctor to review their condition.
“In the UK, research has shown links between covid19 and factors such as poverty and ethnicity, so it is very important that all of these links are better understood.
“In England, people living with serious mental illness are 4.5 times more likely to die than the average before the age of 75 in England, if they do not receive adequate support, so it is very important that we try to understand the reasons behind these poor health outcomes “.
The study was published today in JAMA Psychiatry.