Trend in rates for deaths with mention of schizophrenia on death certificates of US residents, 1999-2010.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Trends in mortality rates for schizophrenia using multiple causes of death (including contributory causes) coded on death certificates in the US resident population apparently have not been reported.

METHODS:

Age-standardized rates for deaths per 100,000 in 1999-2010 at age 15+ years (and for 15-64 and 65+ years) with mention of schizophrenia were examined for the US resident population, including variation by age, gender, race (blacks/African Americans and whites) and region.

RESULTS:

Deaths at age 15+ years coded with schizophrenia as underlying cause were only 12 % of all deaths with mention of schizophrenia, for which the rate declined from 1.58 in 1999 (3,407 deaths) to 1.32 in 2010 (3,422 deaths) (percentage change or PC = -16 %). Declines were larger in females than males, in whites than blacks, and occurred in the Northeast, Midwest and South but not the West. The rate increased for age 15-64 years (PC = +28 %) (mainly in males), however, while declining for age 65+ years (PC = -35 %). For deaths at age 15-64 years with schizophrenia coded as other than the underlying cause, the largest continuous increase was for endocrine-metabolic diseases (predominantly diabetes mellitus) as underlying cause, with smaller increases in males for cardiovascular diseases, external causes and neoplasms.

CONCLUSION:

Trends in the US rate for deaths with mention of schizophrenia varied among the sociodemographic groups examined. The lack of decline for age 15-64 years requires further study especially with regard to mediators (e.g., obesity) of excess mortality in schizophrenia identified from cohort studies.

• Authors: Anthony P Polednak
• Journal: Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology (Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol) Vol. 49 Issue 7 Pg. 1083-91 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1433-9285 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 24562389 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cardiovascular Diseases (ethnology, mortality)
• Cause of Death (trends)
• Death Certificates
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (ethnology, mortality)
• Physicians
• Racial Groups (statistics & numerical data)
• Schizophrenia (ethnology, mortality)
• Sex Distribution
• United States (epidemiology, ethnology)
• Young Adult