[Correlation between the prevalence of schizophrenia and the sociodemographic status in different areas of Copenhagen].
BACKGROUND
The results of a statistical study of the prevalence of schizophrenia are presented. The study was designed to determine whether the prevalence of schizophrenic patients admitted to Copenhagen Community Hospital (KH) in 1994 was higher in the low sociodemographic areas of Copenhagen and lower in the high sociodemographic areas. The Jarman's underprivileged area score (UPA score) was used as the sociodemographic index.


METHODS
The study was a retrospective case-referent study. One hundred and eighty-seven patients admitted to KH on the diagnosis of schizophrenia and who were living in one of the four communities connected to KH comprised the study group.


RESULTS
A high correlation was found between the prevalence of schizophrenia and the UPA score in the four communities (r = 0.87), but the result was not significant (t:p = 0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
The high correlation shows that there is a tendency for schizophrenic people to live in the low sociodemographic areas of Copenhagen, but the statistical material is too small to rule out the possibility that this is a statistical fluctuation. To show a statistically significant correlation, a larger study is needed.
Pedersen
Ann Louise
AL
Ann_Louise_P@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population