The schizophrenic patient in the somatic hospital

Objective: There is an increased risk in schizophrenia for premature death from illnesses in almost all organic systems. The present study analyses th e Rate Ratio (RR) for schizophrenic patients' admissions to somatic departm ents in Denmark. Method: 20 000 schizophrenic patients were identified in the Danish Psychia tric Central Register and 200 000 sex- and age-matched controls were identi fied in the Danish Central Person Register. Both groups were searched for i n the Danish National Patient Register in which admissions to all somatic d epartments are registered. Pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases are used a s examples. Results: RR is increased for several diseases, especially infectious, up to a maximum of RR = 4.15 for severe heart failures and decreased to as low a s RR = 0.35 for atherosclerotic diseases of the brain vessels. Conclusion: It seems that individuals with schizophrenia are rarely treated for their physical illness in its early, less severe phases, but more like ly in its acute phases when the disease is severe, life-threatening or pain ful.