Mortality Risk Following Acute Coronary Syndrome Among Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders—Addressing the Gaps

摘要

It is well established that patients with severe mental illness die prematurely from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recently, a large meta-analysis within and across major psychiatric diagnostic groups further demonstrated that CVD-related deaths were highest in schizophrenia.1 By the same token, CVD can be viewed as a preventable contributor to early mortality. Advancements in preventative medicine and acute cardiac care have led to a decline in cardiovascular and acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-related mortality in the general population. Unfortunately, similar trends of decline in mortality related to CVD have not been observed in severe mental illness, with findings that the mortality gap may be increasing, particularly in those with schizophrenia.2 The widening mortality gap from CVD suggests that people with schizophrenia are not benefitting from advancements in cardiovascular care.