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Patients with mental health disorders are about twice as likely to die from Covid-19 as people without mental illness, new research released Tuesday revealed, prompting researchers to urge health officials public to do more to prioritize vulnerable groups in their efforts to control the pandemic.
People with mental health disorders are more likely to die from Covid-19, studies show.
Highlights
Overall, researchers found that patients with mental health disorders were nearly twice as likely (1.8 times) to die from Covid-19 as patients without them, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Patients with severe mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were at particularly high risk of dying from Covid-19, researchers said, being more than twice as likely (2.3 times) to die as patients without mental health problems.
Differences in the immune system in people with bipolar or schizophrenia could perhaps explain the higher risks in these groups, the researchers wrote.
Even taking into account other factors that could explain the increased risk such as obesity, age and other health problems, the researchers still observed a significantly higher risk of death in people with the disorders. severe mental disorders (1.7 times) and mental disorders as a whole (1.4 times).
The researchers said this suggests that there may be other factors that increase the risk of death for this group, such as difficulty accessing health care, a higher propensity for substance abuse, the effects of drugs. psychiatric and a wide range of social factors known to influence health outcomes.
Given the higher risks of dying from Covid-19, mental health patients should be prioritized for disease prevention and management strategies, including vaccinations, treatments and specific training of hospital staff, said the patients. researchers.
What we don’t know
The results, which were derived from an analysis of 16 studies that examined the medical records of more than 19,000 people in 7 countries, were unable to accurately assess the risk of different mental disorders, a problem that the researchers said future studies could solve. Disorders studied included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders, which are generally considered distinct from mental disorders. , but have been shown in many used studies and commonly coexist with mental illnesses. .
What to watch out for
In the studies analyzed, different types of depressive disorders were grouped together. Researchers said it’s possible that death rates from Covid-19 differ for those with recurrent episodes of depression and those with an acute episode, which is more common and can be resolved “with or without treatment. and without subsequent consequences “. .
Key context
This study is in line with previous research that highlights the high risks patients with mental health issues face as a result of Covid-19, especially those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Many have struggle To to access the care they need during the pandemic, as usual support structures and healthcare networks have had to shut down or adapt to mostly online services. The pandemic, in all its forms, has also had a negative effect on mental well-being. Insulation, stress and fear have had a marked impact on people’s mental health and the changes working and living environments have created new stressors and destroyed valuable routines. Research suggest that one in five Covid-19 patients will be diagnosed with mental illness within three months of recovery and that conditions affecting the brain and thinking are common in those who suffer from long covid. One to study noted 23% of Covid-19 patients reporting depression and 16% anxiety, even in mild cases of the disease.
Further reading
Association between mental health disorders and mortality in COVID-19 patients in 7 countries (JAMA Psychiatry)
High number of Covid patients reports mental health impact, research finds (Forbes)
Revealed: The impact of Covid-19 on people living with bipolar disorder (Telegraph)
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Sources 2/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/07/28/people-with-mental-health-disorders-nearly-twice-as-likely-to-die-from-covid-study-finds/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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