Somatic Comorbidities among Senior Schizophrenics: A Local Pilot Estimation
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Medical Research - Year 2020, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: Comorbidity between mental disorders and physical illnesses is the rule rather than the exception. Approaches to study the impact of comorbidity become challenging also due to lack of consensus about how to define and measure the concept of comorbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical profile of medical comorbidity among a group of local chronic elderly schizophrenic patients to see their prevalence and physiognomies. Methods: While geriatric section of Razi psychiatric hospital had been selected as the field of investigation, all elderly schizophrenic patients, who have been hospitalized there for lifelong, had been selected as accessible sample and surveyed with respect to recorded checkups and comorbid medical diagnoses. Psychiatric diagnosis was in essence based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 5th edition (DSM-5) and medical diagnosis was principally based on ‘International Classification of Diseases’, 10th edition. Results: Assessment had been performed on 168 aged schizophrenic patients (≥65 years old), including 101 men and 67 women. According to results, 89% (n=151) of elderly patients had some kind of registered non-psychiatric co-morbidity, which was meaningfully higher than frequency of comorbidity among senior group of local residents. Amongst recorded comorbidities falls, hypertension and osteoarthritis were the most prevalent comorbidities with a frequency around 48.8%, 44.6% and 39.2%, respectively. Hypertension, renal disease and malnutrition were significantly more prevalent among male patients (p<0.0000, p<0.0045 and p< 0.0018, in turn) and hyponaremia, aspiration/asphyxiation and seizure were meaningfully more prevalent among female patients (p<0.0075, p<0.0000 and p<0.0009, one-to-one). As stated by the findings and in comparison with the senior group of local people while diabetes, renal diseases and malnutrition were significantly more frequent, coronary artery disease, gastrointestinal disorder and osteoarthritis were significantly less frequent among the present sample of elderly schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: While in comparison with senior group of local people the rate of medical comorbidities, particularly diabetes, renal diseases and malnutrition, were significantly higher in chronic elderly schizophrenic patients, a significant difference, as well, was palpable regarding the interrelated items between male and female patients, which demands further methodical and gender-based studies to define proper care and interventions for this vulnerable group of patients.
Authors and Affiliations
Saeed Shoja Shafti*, Alireza Memarie, Masomeh Rezaie, Behjat Rahimi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP698949
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JCMR.2020.1104
- Views 103
- Downloads 0
Successful Treatment of Granuloma Annulare with Tapinarof 1% Cream: A Case Report
Granuloma Annulare (GA) is an inflammatory, granulomatous skin condition that presents with erythematous plaques or papules with several subtypes including patch, perforating, subcutaneous and atypical. GA is benign and...
Prevalence of Hypertension in the Philippines in the Year 2050: Confronting a Major Challenge
Background: The prevalence of hypertension in the Philippines has continuously increased in the past 22 years or more than two decades (from 1993 to 2015), with increased related deaths due to ischemic heart disease, str...
Pandemic and Modern Medicine: Time to Recognize and Correct Previous Misconceptions
A year ago, few people doubted the scientific validity and practical feasibility of existing approaches to the treatment of Acute Pneumonia (AP). Even the use of a single antibiotic as the main treatment for completely...
Efficacy of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Cement Varnish and Sodium Fluoride Varnish in The Prevention of White Spot Lesions During Fixed Orthodontic Treatment- A Split Mouth Study
Objective: Evaluating efficacy of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Varnish and Sodium Fluoride Varnish in prevention of White Spot Lesions (WSLs) during early fixed orthodontic treatment; comparing the incidence of white spo...
Alteration of Endocrine Functions and Reproductive Outcome Following Consumption of Edible Crops Grown Around E-Waste Dumpsite Using Albino Wistar Rat Model
Electronic waste (e-waste) is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded appliances using electricity in one form or the other which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling but most importantly di...