First author | Period | Design | N | Results | Conclusion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tsay, 2007 [26]. Taiwan | 1997–2001 | Cohort study | 97589 pts admitted for acute appendicitis | OR of perf. appendix: no mental disorder: 1.0; schizophr. pts: 2.83; affective psychosis: 1.15; other mental disorders: 1.58 | Mentally ill patients are at a disadvantage in obtaining timely treatment for their physical diseases. Schizophrenic pts are the most vulnerable ones for obtaining timely surgical care. |
Nasrallah, 2006[27]. USA | 2003 | Cohort study, baseline data from CATIE Schizophrenia Trial | 1460 schizophr. pts 18–65 years of age | Prevalence of pts with untreated DM: 30.2%; pts with untreated hypertension: 62.4%; pts with untreated dyslipidemia: 88.0% | There is a high likelihood that metabolic disorders are untreated in schizophr. pts. |
Roberts, 2007[28]. UK | April 1998–Dec 2000 | Case-matched retrospective review. | 195 schizophr. pts vs. 390 matched asthma pts vs. 390 matched controls | OR of blood pressure records 0.51 (vs. asthma pts); OR of cholesterol records 0.50 (vs. asthma pts); OR of blood pressure records 0.68 (vs. controls); OR of cholesterol records 0.58 (vs. controls) | Schizophr. pts are less likely to receive some important general health checks than patients without schizophrenia. |
Wright, 2006[29]. UK | Not mentioned | Qualitative research | 31 SMI pts, 8 GP's and 2 NP's, 25 mental health workers | Identified problems are the lack of familiarity with SMI and antipsychotic side effects in general practice, poor communication of physical health issues to the CMHT, lack of knowledge regarding CHD risk factor screening, and difficulties in interpreting screening results and implementing appropriate interventions in secondary care | Management of physical health care for people with SMI requires complex solutions that cross the primary-secondary care interface. |
Osborn, 2003[30]. UK | Not mentioned | Experiment | 182 psychotic pts 313 controls | OR for pts participating in cardiovascular risk screening: 0.76. Psychotic pts consulted their GP more often (mean difference 1.8) | Interest in risk assessment was similar to those in other community research involving blood tests. |
Beecroft, 2001[31]. UK | Not mentioned | Interviews | 309 randomly selected pts from a sample of 566 psychotic pts | Pts who visited their GP within the last 6 months were more often (83% vs. 50%) satisfied with the amount and type of service provided for their physical needs | Patients with SMI should be encouraged to see their GPs. There is a strong argument for a routine annual check up of the severely mentally ill by their GPs. |