A critical review of major mortality risk factors for all-cause mortality in first-episode schizophrenia: clinical and research implications

Abstract

A bibliographical search was performed to identify and evaluate the impact in first-episode schizophrenia of the major mortality risk factors as described by the World Health Organisation (2009). We found that at first diagnosis rates of diabetes were only slightly increased, although lipid abnormalities, mild hypertension and being overweight were commonly reported. Levels of drug and alcohol abuse were high, as were pre-diagnosis rates of smoking, physical inactivity and poor cardiorespiratory fitness. During the first year of antipsychotic treatment, there were significant increases in the rates of hyperglycaemia/diabetes, obesity, lipid abnormalities and hypertension, but no changes in fitness levels, smoking or drug and alcohol abuse. In chronic schizophrenia, excess cancer and cardiac deaths seem linked in part to availability and quality of care. Innate risk factors such as abnormal reelin and raised prolactin may also be important. New evidence, such as an inverse relationship between body mass index and suicide in the general population, suggests accepted wisdom may not apply to patients at high risk of ending their own lives. With current knowledge emphasis needs to be placed by early intervention services on physical fitness, smoking and other substance misuse, diabetes and hypertension, as well as focusing on weight reduction only in the obese.