title: Increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with schizophrenia: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the prevalence and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the database provided by the National Health Research Institute, we obtained a random sample of 766,427 subjects aged ≥18 years in 2005. Subjects with a primary or secondary diagnosis of COPD during 2005 were identified. We compared the prevalence of COPD in schizophrenic patients with that in the general population. We also detected new cases of COPD from 2006 to 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of COPD in patients with schizophrenia was higher than that in the general population (3.83% vs. 2.88%, odds ratio [OR] 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]),1.42-1.94) in 2005. Compared with the general population, patients with schizophrenia had a higher prevalence of COPD in individuals <50 years old and ≥70 years old; among both sexes, and among insurance amount of a fixed premium and an amount less than US$640. Patients with schizophrenia had a higher annual incidence of COPD than that in the general population (2.21% vs. 1.43%, risk ratio 1.83; 95% CI, 1.62-2.07). The higher incidence of COPD in patients with schizophrenia was associated with increased age and male sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with schizophrenia had a higher prevalence and incidence of COPD than individuals in the general population in Taiwan. Younger adults and men with schizophrenia had a much higher prevalence of COPD compared with those groups in the general population, a result deserving further study.
authors.affiliation: Chia-Yi Hospital, Department of Health, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jer-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: I-Chia
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Ching-Heng
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yiing-Jenq
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents