The schizophrenic patient in the somatic hospital

Objective: There is an increased risk in schizophrenia for premature death from illnesses in almost all organic systems. The present study analyses the Rate Ratio (RR) for schizophrenic patients' admissions to somatic departments in Denmark. Method: 20 000 schizophrenic patients were identified in the Danish Psychiatric Central Register and 200 000 sex- and age-matched controls were identified in the Danish Central Person Register. Both groups were searched for in the Danish National Patient Register in which admissions to all somatic departments are registered. Pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases are used as examples. Results: RR is increased for several diseases, especially infectious, up to a maximum of RR = 4.15 for severe heart failures and decreased to as low as RR = 0.35 for atherosclerotic diseases of the brain vessels. Conclusion: It seems that individuals with schizophrenia are rarely treated for their physical illness in its early, less severe phases, but more likely in its acute phases when the disease is severe, life-threatening or painful.