title: Cardiovascular risk factors among people with severe mental illness in Italy: a cross-sectional comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in people with severe mental illness (SMI), estimating its weight on related risks in Southern Europe, an area with distinct dietary traditions. People with SMI may be more likely than general population to have high prevalence of risk factors for CVDs, due to several reasons, including poor health behaviours and psychopharmacological medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study has been conducted, comparing inpatients with and without SMI. Univariate and multivariate analyses and logistic regression models have been carried out, exploring the effect of SMI on the prevalence of CVD risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although obesity and hypertriglyceridemia were more prevalent among people with SMI, controlling for relevant confounders in multivariate analyses we could not detect any significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with SMI may not necessarily have higher CVD risk, as compared with general population. Mediterranean healthy dietary habits, universal health coverage, families providing strong support, all are possible explanations for our findings. Further research is needed, exploring different mechanisms, with more detailed biological and genetics measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy. Electronic address: d.carretta1@campus.unimib.it.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carretta
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crocamo
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bebbington
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrà
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Comorbidity; Mediterranean diet; Mental Disorders; Risk factors