look news india
People suffering from mental illnesses may have a higher risk of death from a sudden heart attack than normal individuals. This has come to light from a new study. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, found that schizophrenia patients have four times the risk of death from a sudden heart attack, while patients suffering from other mental illnesses such as depression have double the risk. .
According to the study, people suffering from mental health problems may suffer from serious heart disease at an early age, which also has a negative impact on their life expectancy. The research analyzed death data for Danish residents aged 18 to 90, in which more than 45 thousand deaths were recorded during 2010. Of these deaths, 6,002 were classified as sudden cardiac arrest, of which 2,319 were among people with mental illness.
6.5 times higher risk
The research found that the risk of sudden death from heart attack in mentally ill patients was 6.5 times higher than that of the general population. This risk was 4.5 times higher in schizophrenia patients, while it was up to three times higher in patients suffering from bipolar disorder. Apart from this, this risk was found to be doubled in people suffering from depression.
Researchers also found that people with mental health problems have a lower life expectancy than the general population. For example, a 70-year-old person suffering from mental illness may live for 10 more years, whereas for a mentally healthy person this time may be 14 years. The study also showed that heart attacks are associated with other causes of death in people with mental illnesses. Study findings suggest that unhealthy lifestyle and side effects of medications can lead to problems like heart disease and high blood pressure in mental patients.