title: Life expectancy among persons with schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mortality rates among individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are elevated compared to the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to estimate life-expectancy (average age at death) among these persons and make a comparison to people in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Life-expectancy was calculated by means of survival analysis techniques using the entire Danish population as a cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Life-expectancy was 18.7 years shorter for schizophrenic men compared to men in the general population. Corresponding numbers for schizophrenic women was 16.3 years, for bipolar men 13.6 years, and for bipolar women 12.1 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Life-expectancy was much shorter in persons with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Excess mortality from physical diseases and medical conditions exerts a far greater influence on the curtailed life-expectancy, when compared against the impact of death by external causes.
authors: National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Taasingegade 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. tml@ncrr.dk
authors: Thomas Munk
authors: TM
authors: Laursen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult