Mediplacements - Mental health disorders 'often lead to cardiovascular conditions'

Mental health disorders 'often lead to cardiovascular conditions'

Tuesday 22nd March 2011

Patients with severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder tend to have worse physical health and a subsequent elevated risk of cardiovascular factors, research has indicated.

Life expectancy for people with such disorders was reduced by up to 25 years, which the authors of the study, published in BMC Psychiatry, put down in part to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and increased cholesterol resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle.

It was also revealed that two-thirds of patients with severe mental illness were overweight or obese.

Professor Richard Gray from the University of East Anglia commented: "Mental health nurses do a tough job and are compassionate and highly committed. But they do not tend to be skilled at managing the physical health of their patients and they often don't lead entirely healthy lifestyles themselves."

Meanwhile, a new online tool designed to improve cardiovascular care has been launched by the Department of Health.

The tool will show the variation of risk factors and mortality rates for heart disease and stroke in the UK as well as the quality and availability of services.

Written by Megan Smith
ADNFCR-1780-ID-800472238-ADNFCR