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High rates of respiratory symptoms and airway disease in mental health inpatients in a tertiary centre
Author(s) -
Burke Andrew J.,
Hay Karen,
Chadwick Alex,
Siskind Dan,
Sheridan Judith
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.13594
Subject(s) - medicine , spirometry , copd , respiratory disease , disease , respiratory system , cross sectional study , physical therapy , pediatrics , asthma , lung , pathology
Background People with severe mental illness ( SMI ) have a lower life expectancy due in part to a higher prevalence of cardiac and metabolic disease. Less is known of the prevalence of respiratory disease in this group. Aims This cross‐sectional, observational study aimed to assess the prevalence of symptoms associated with respiratory disease in patients admitted to an inpatient mental health unit. Methods A convenience sample of 82 inpatients had a structured interview and questionnaire completed. The questionnaire included self‐reported diagnoses of common diseases and screening questions designed to detect respiratory disease and sleep disordered breathing. Targeted spirometry was performed on the basis of symptoms and smoking status. Results Patients reported high rates of respiratory symptoms, including wheezing (38%) and dyspnoea (44%); 52% of patients reported daily tobacco use. Productive cough was significantly associated with tobacco use ( P < 0.005). Ten patients (18%) had spirometry consistent with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) of whom six did not have a formal diagnosis of COPD previously. Conclusions People with SMI have high rates of respiratory symptoms with a high prevalence of COPD on spirometry. Half of the COPD cases were not previously diagnosed, suggesting a hidden burden of respiratory disease in patients with SMI .