Schizophrenia is the second biggest risk factor for dying from Covid-19 after age, new research shows.
The mental health condition triples the risk of dying from Covid-19 compared to a healthy person between 18 and 44 years old.
The only group of people who are at higher risk of dying than those with schizophrenia are older people who, regardless of comorbidities, are much more likely to die.
Scientists do not yet fully understand why people with schizophrenia are at greater risk, but believe it may be due to a genetic defect that impairs their immune response.
People with schizophrenia tend to live on average two decades less than people without mental health and also suffer from increased illnesses due to lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and side effects of some medications for schizophrenia.
Other conditions that have increased the risk of death include heart failure (60 percent increased risk), high blood pressure (38 percent) and diabetes (27 percent).
It was found that men were 69 percent more likely to die than women and non-white people (black, Asian, mixed race) were 47 percent more likely to die compared to whites.
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The mental health condition triples the risk of dying from Covid-19 compared to a healthy person between 18 and 44 years old. Other conditions that have increased the risk of death include heart failure (60 percent increased risk), high blood pressure (38 percent) and diabetes (27 percent)
Between March and May 2020, researchers from New York University studied anonymous health records of more than 7,000 patients admitted to Covid-19 Hospital, 75 of whom were medically diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Mortality was defined as death or discharge from hospice within 45 days after a positive test result for the coronavirus.
“Our findings illustrate that people with schizophrenia are extremely vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19,” said Dr Katlyn Nemani, lead author of the study.
“With this newfound understanding, healthcare providers can better prioritize the distribution, testing and medical care for the group.”
Professor Shon Lewis of the University of Manchester, who was not involved in the study, said: ‘This is a good, robust study with important findings.
‘We have known for some time that people with schizophrenia in the UK have a life expectancy that has been reduced by 18-20 years compared to the general population.
‘This terrible statistic is mainly due to the increased dose of cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic diseases due to lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and side effects of some medicines in people with schizophrenia.
‘This latest finding shows how good preventative care must now be urgently focused on this incredibly vulnerable and disadvantaged population. They should be immediately prioritized for vaccination. ‘
Currently, the UK Joint Vaccination and Immunization Committee has prioritized all people over the age of 50 for the jab, as well as health workers and the extremely vulnerable clinically, who are in the fourth priority slot before the age of 65.
This group includes people with ‘severe mental illness’, who are not currently listed as clinically extremely vulnerable, and people suffering from this condition give no priority if they receive the vaccine.
The clinically extremely vulnerable group includes chronic kidney disease and diabetes, which increase the risk of death of Covid by 1.23 and 1.27-fold, respectively. It is dwarfed by the 2.67 figure for schizophrenia.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘The list of conditions used to identify individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable is being agreed upon by the four UK officials and reflects the latest evidence.
“NHS clinicians are able to add any patient to the protected patient list, based on their own clinical judgment and an impartial assessment of their needs.”
The clinically extremely vulnerable vaccine priority group includes people with chronic kidney disease and diabetes, who apparently were 1.23 and 1.27 more likely to die from Covid than a healthy person. It is dwarfed by the 2.67 figure for schizophrenia (stock)
Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: ‘The lethal effects of Covid-19 on people with schizophrenia are of deep concern and should serve as a catalyst to ensure that this risk group of people is offered the vaccine. at the earliest opportunity.
‘Those living in the community should be supported throughout the vaccination process, while those in mental health centers or residential settings should not be forgotten or left behind.
‘People with a serious mental illness die on average 20 years earlier than the general population. The government must do everything in its power to protect people living with severe mental illness, intellectual disability and dementia from Covid-19. ‘
Although people with schizophrenia were at much higher risk of dying, people with anxiety and mood disorders were not.
This, according to the researchers, suggests that there may be an unknown underlying mechanism that increases people with schizophrenia.
Dr. Nemani says it could be a disorder of the immune system, possibly linked to the genetics of the disease.
“Now that we have a better understanding of the disease, we can investigate more deeply what, if any, immune system problems can contribute to the high mortality rates found in these patients with schizophrenia,” says senior author Dr. Donald Goff at NYU Langone. .
Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at Mind, said: ‘While we welcome research on the links between serious mental health problems and Covid19, much more powerful research is needed worldwide, including in the UK.
‘Research leading to improved health outcomes and quality of life for people with mental health problems is welcomed.
‘Never before has it been more important for people with mental health problems to get the support they need.
‘Anyone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and who is concerned about the impact coronavirus can have on their health should talk to their doctor to review their situation.
‘In the UK, research has shown that it is linked between covid19 and factors such as poverty and ethnicity, so it is very important that all these links are better understood.
‘In England it is 4.5 times more likely than people who die of severe mental illness before reaching the age of 75 in England if they do not get the right support, so it is very important that we try to understand the reasons behind these poor health outcomes. ‘
The study was published today in JAMA Psychiatry.