title: Mortality in people with schizophrenia in rural China: 10-year cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term mortality and the risk factors for premature death among patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the 10-year mortality and its risk factors among patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from a 10-year prospective follow-up study (1994-2004) of mortality among people with schizophrenia, and death registration data for Xinjin County, Chengdu, China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality rate was 2228 per 100,000 person-years during follow-up. Both all-cause mortality and suicide rates were significantly greater in male than in female patients. Age at illness onset (>45 years), duration of illness (> or =10 years), age greater than 50 years, physical illness, in ability to work, male gender, and never having received treatment were identified as independent predictors of increased mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher mortality rates in male patients may contribute to the higher prevalence of schizophrenia in women compared with men in China. The findings of risk factors for mortality should be taken into account when developing interventions to improve outcomes among people with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: College of Professional Studies, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA. ranmaosh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mao-Sheng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Eric Yu-Hai
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yeates
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Conwell
authors.forename: Cecilia Lai-Wan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Paul S F
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Meng-Ze
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Caine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000401:mortality*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data