Incidence and method of suicide mortality in patients with schizophrenia: a Nationwide Cohort Study

Purpose

Suicide is a leading cause of death in patients with schizophrenia. This nationwide cohort study investigated the incidence of each suicide method in patients with schizophrenia compared with the general population.

Methods

In total, records of 174,039 patients with schizophrenia were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan from 2001 to 2016. This schizophrenia cohort was linked with the national mortality database, and 26,926 patients died during this follow-up period. Of the deceased, 3033 had died by suicide. Univariate Cox regression was used to estimate the demographic variables associated with suicide. We estimated the difference in the proportion of each suicide method used in patients with schizophrenia compared with the general population. The incidence and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of each suicide method were calculated and stratified based on sex.

Results

Patients aged 25–34 years exhibited the highest suicide risk. Compared with the general population, patients with schizophrenia were more likely to commit suicide by jumping and drowning and less likely to use charcoal-burning and hanging. Women showed a higher incidence of suicide by drowning and jumping than did men. Comorbidity with substance use disorders (SUDs) was associated with a high suicide SMR (26.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.4–28.9), particularly for suicide by jumping (61.2, 95% CI = 48.3–76.3).

Conclusions

Patients with schizophrenia had higher suicide rates for all methods than did the general population. Suicide method differed based on sex. Patients with SUDs exhibit a high SMR for each suicide method and warrant intensive clinical attention.

     

Age Effect on Incidence,Physical, and Psychiatric Comorbidity for Sudden Cardiac Death in Schizophrenia: Effet de l’âge sur l’incidence,la comorbidité physique et psychiatrique de la mort cardiaque subite dans la schizophrénie

Objective:The pathogenesis of sudden cardiac death may differ between younger and older adults in schizophrenia, but evidence remains scant. This study investigated the age effect on the incidence and risk of the physical and psychiatric comorbidity for sudden cardiac death.Methods:Using 2000 to 2016 data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and Department of Health Death Certification System, we identified a national cohort of 170,322 patients with schizophrenia, 1,836 of whom had a sudden cardiac death. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated. Hazard ratios and population attributable fractions of distinctive comorbidities for sudden cardiac death were assessed.Results:The SMRs of sudden cardiac death were all >1.00 across each age group for both sexes, with the highest SMR in male patients aged <35 years (30.88, 95% CI: 26.18–36.18). The fractions of sudden cardiac death attributable to hypertension and congestive heart failure noticeably increased with age. By contrast, the fraction attributable to drug-induced mental disorder decreased with age. Additionally, chronic hepatic disease and sleep disorder increased the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients aged <35 years. Dementia and organic mental disorder elevated the risk in patients aged between 35–54 years. Ischemic heart disease raised the risk in patients aged ≥55 years.Conclusions:The risk is increased across the lifespan in schizophrenia, particularly for younger male patients. Furthermore, physical and psychiatric comorbidities have age-dependent risks. The findings suggest that prevention strategies targeted toward sudden cardiac death in patients with schizophrenia must consider the age effect.     

急性肺损伤发病过程中IL-6与肺表面活性蛋白SP-A、SP-B的关系研究

目的:分析急性肺损伤中IL-6与肺表面活性蛋白-A(surfactant protein A,SP-A)和SP-B的含量变化及其相互关系,探讨急性肺损伤的发病机制.方法:用Wistar大鼠复制油酸性急性肺损伤动物模型,在不同时间点收集急性肺损伤大鼠血清标本及肺泡灌洗液(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, BALF),用放射免疫法测定血清细胞因子IL-6的动态变化;采用ELISA法检测BALF中SP-A、SP-B含量的变化.结果与结论:急性肺损伤后大鼠血清中细胞因子IL-6的分泌水平显著上升(P<0.05), 而BALF中SP-A、SP-B含量显著降低,且血清中IL-6含量升高与BALF中SP-A、SP-B下降幅度呈显著负相关.结果提示急性肺损伤中IL-6分泌的升高与肺表面活性蛋白SP-A、SP-B含量的降低有显著的相关关系,炎症细胞因子IL-6 可能通过影响SP-A、SP-B的表达产生致病作用.