Sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with severe mental disorders compared with the general population.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence and distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in a group of patients with severe mental disorders compared with the general population and investigate if differences in sociodemographic background variables between groups were associated with differences in risk profile.


METHODS
We compared data from the ongoing Ulleval 600 Study (205 pharmacologically stable outpatients with DSM-IV psychotic disorders) with data from the 2000-2001 Oslo Health Study (18,770 individuals from the general population of the same area). Subjects were stratified according to age and gender and compared for ethnic background, level of education, marital status, and prevalence of risk factors.


RESULTS
Patients had an overall prevalence of smoking, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus about twice that of the reference group. Patients aged 18 through 50 years had the highest level of risk factors when compared with the general population. There was no major difference in ethnic background or educational level between cohorts.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased cardiovascular risk profile in patients is particularly pronounced in young individuals and could not be explained by sociodemographic variables alone.
Birkenaes
Astrid B
AB
Department of Psychiatry, Ulleval University Hospital and University of Oslo, Norway. a.b.birkenas@medisin.uio.no
Søgaard
Anne J
AJ
Engh
John A
JA
Jonsdottir
Halldora
H
Ringen
P Andreas
PA
Vaskinn
Anja
A
Friis
Svein
S
Sundet
Kjetil
K
Opjordsmoen
Stein
S
Andreassen
Ole A
OA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology