Open AccessPremature Mortality among People with Severe Mental Illness – New Evidence from Linked Primary Care Data
Author(s) -
Sze Chim Lee,
Ann John,
Joanna McGregor,
Ian Rees Jones,
James Walters,
MJ Owen,
Michael O’Donovan,
Marcos DelPozo-Baños,
Damon Berridge,
K. H. Lloyd
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of population data science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 7
ISSN - 2399-4908
DOI - 10.23889/ijpds.v3i4.898
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , population , mental illness , cohort study , standardized mortality ratio , psychological intervention , demography , pediatrics , mental health , psychiatry , environmental health , sociology
Studies assessing premature mortality in people with severe mental illness (SMI) are often based in one setting, hospital (secondary care inpatients and/or outpatients) or community (primary care). This may lead to ascertainment bias.
Objectives and ApproachThis study aimed to estimate standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality in people with SMI drawn from linked primary and secondary care populations compared to the general population. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using the indirect method for a United Kingdom population of almost four million between 2004-2013.
ResultsThe all-cause SMR was higher in the cohort identified from secondary care hospital admissions (SMR: 2.9; 95% CI: 2.8-3.0) than from primary care (SMR: 2.2; 95% CI: 2.1-2.3) when compared to the general population. The SMR for the combined cohort was 2.6 (95% CI: 2.5-2.6). Solely hospital admission based studies may somewhat over-estimate premature mortality in those with SMI. However, there is no doubt this remains a major health inequality. Cause specific SMRs in the combined cohort were particularly elevated in those with SMI relative to the general population for ill-defined and unknown causes, suicide, and substance abuse, as well as a number of other causes.
Conclusion/ImplicationsThe ability to combine cohorts electronically from primary and secondary care is more representative of the whole population. Comprehensive characterisation of mortality is important to inform policy and practice and to discriminate settings to allow for proportionate interventions to address this health injustice.