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Cardiovascular and Respiratory Risk Factors and Symptoms among General Practice Patients with Long-Term Mental Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Tony Kendrick
Tony Kendrick*
Affiliation:
Division of General Practice and Primary Care, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE
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Abstract

Background

In the past psychiatric in-patients suffered increased cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. The present study investigated whether increased risks persist among patients in the community and are being addressed in general practice.

Method

A survey of 101 long-term mentally ill adults in 16 general practices in the South Thames (West) Region.

Results

Twenty-six patients were found to be obese (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), 53 were current smokers and 11 were hypertensive (mean systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg or mean diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg, or both). Twenty-one reported daily cough and sputum, 24 shortness of breath, 11 wheezing and seven chest pain on exertion. These rates were significantly higher than population rates in a contemporary national survey. Nearly all the risk factors were recorded in the general practice records but few attempts to intervene were apparent.

Conclusions

Long-term mentally ill patients remain at increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory problems in the community. Primary care teams should make special efforts to tackle risk factors among this group.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 6 , December 1996 , pp. 733 - 739
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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