Excess mortality in severe mental illness: 10-year population-based cohort study in rural Ethiopia

Evidence on mortality in severe mental illness (SMI) comes primarily from clinical samples in high-income countries. To describe mortality in people with SMI among a population cohort from a low-income country. We followed-up 919 adults (from 68 378 screened) with SMI over 10 years. Standardised mor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 2015-04, Vol.206 (4), p.289-296
Main Authors: Fekadu, Abebaw, Medhin, Girmay, Kebede, Derege, Alem, Atalay, Cleare, Anthony J, Prince, Martin, Hanlon, Charlotte, Shibre, Teshome
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents
Adolescent
Adult
Bipolar Disorder - mortality
Cause of Death
Cohort Studies
Depression - mortality
Ethiopia - epidemiology
Female
Homicide
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Poverty
Rural Population - statistics & numerical data
Schizophrenia - mortality
Sex Distribution
Suicide - statistics & numerical data
Young Adult
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Summary:Evidence on mortality in severe mental illness (SMI) comes primarily from clinical samples in high-income countries. To describe mortality in people with SMI among a population cohort from a low-income country. We followed-up 919 adults (from 68 378 screened) with SMI over 10 years. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) and years of life lost (YLL) as a result of premature mortality were calculated. In total 121 patients (13.2%) died. The overall SMR was twice that of the general population; higher for men and people with schizophrenia. Patients died about three decades prematurely, mainly from infectious causes (49.6%). Suicide, accidents and homicide were also common causes of death. Mortality is an important adverse outcome of SMI irrespective of setting. Addressing common natural and unnatural causes of mortality are urgent priorities. Premature death and mortality related to self-harm should be considered in the estimation of the global burden of disease for SMI.
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.149112