Persons diagnosed with mental disease have usually inadequate lifestyle, especially sedentary life, lack of physical exercise, cardiac diseases, diets with sugar, lipids, coffee, and also tobacco or drugs abuse (Citrome & Yeomans, 2005; Chuang et al., 2008; Messias & Rondina, 2007). They have also high risk of mortality (Osborn et al., 2006).

To identify the prevalence of cardiovascular risk and others co-morbidities in persons diagnosed with mental illness.

Data were collected by consulting processes of 100 patients of the Department of Psychiatry at Hospital de S. João, Oporto, Portugal, diagnosed with depression (55%), bipolar disorder (14%), and schizophrenia (31%). They were aged between 24–77 years old (M = 48.4), with low education level (30% with 4 years; 39% with 6 years, 7% with high school level), 44% male, 45% workers, 26% un-employers and 30% pensioners.

The results reveal a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, smoking habits, and obesity compared with the general population. 68% have obesity, 71% smokes, 5% are drug addicted, 5% are alcoholic, 11% are diabetics, 27% are hypertensive, 12% have cardiac disease, 40% have cholesterol, and 94% have at least one cardiac risk factor.

Results highlight the need to develop new strategies to prevent co-morbidities on mental health, helping mentally ill persons to have a better quality of life.