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Excess Mortality Among Elderly Psychiatric In-Patients with Organic Mental Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

W. Rössler ,
W. Hewer ,
B. Fätkenheuer  and
W. Löffler
W. Rössler*
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services Research Unit
W. Hewer
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services Research Unit
B. Fätkenheuer
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services Research Unit
W. Löffler
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services Research Unit
*
Dr W. Rössler, Mental Health Services Research Unit, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesunndheit, Postfach 12 21 20, Mannheim, Germany
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Abstract

Background

Many studies have shown hospitalised mentally ill patients to have a higher mortality risk than the general population.

Method

Data of patients with organic mental disorders of ICD–9 categories 290, 293, 294 and 310 from seven psychiatric hospitals with defined catchment areas were analysed. During an observation period of 2.5 years 1821 treatment periods in these diagnostic categories were recorded.

Results

During hospitalisation 137 patients died from natural causes. The age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates show an increased mortality risk of 7.5 times, compared to the general population. The odds ratio of a logistic regression demonstrate the overwhelming influence of the medical diagnosis.

Conclusion

Medical factors, particularly pneumonias, contribute most to the excess mortality.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 4 , October 1995 , pp. 527 - 532
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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