title: Differences in Aerobic Fitness between Inpatients and Outpatients with Severe Mental Disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with severe mental disorders have increased mortality, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for a large part. Physical inactivity and low aerobic fitness have been recognized as significant risk factors for CVD. In this study, we investigated the differences in aerobic fitness and physical activity between in- and outpatients with severe mental disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty in- and outpatients from a regional psychiatric department were included. The patients filled in a questionnaire on physical activity and completed a clinical examination. An estimation of aerobic fitness was calculated for each patient, using gender, age, waist circumference, resting heart rate, and physical activity level as variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inpatients had lower estimated aerobic fitness than outpatients (VO2peak 42 vs. 50 mL kg(-1) min(-1), p < 0.001). Compared to population data matched for age and gender, inpatients had lower aerobic fitness, while outpatients were not different from the population average.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inpatients at a psychiatric department had lower estimated aerobic fitness than outpatients, and a lower aerobic fitness compared to the general population. Our findings suggest that inpatients with severe mental disorders should be considered a high risk group for CVD.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway.
authors.forename: Helene Daae-Qvale
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Holmemo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway ; Division of Psychiatry, Department of Østmarka, St. Olavs University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway.
authors.forename: John Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fløvig
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Department of Østmarka, St. Olavs University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway.
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heggelund
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway ; Department of Research and Development (AFFU), Division of Psychiatry, St. Olavs University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway.
authors.forename: Einar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vedul-Kjelsås
keywords: VO2max; aerobic fitness; cardiovascular risk factors; inpatients; mental disorders; mortality; outpatients; psychosis