Mental illnesses are very common across the world, with an estimated one in five adults—nearly 60 million people—impacted by at least one mental illness in the U.S. alone. Though schizophrenia isn’t as common as disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, it can be particularly debilitating.
Schizophrenia not only presents unsettling symptoms—like hearing voices that don’t exist—but it also leads to a host of comorbid conditions, including depression and substance abuse. Additionally, it’s possible those with schizophrenia may also be at heightened risk of sudden cardiac death.
Understanding the Link Between Schizophrenia and Sudden Cardiac Death
A recent analysis published in Heart shows that patients with schizophrenia are considerably more susceptible to sudden cardiac death. The study reviewed death certificates and autopsy reports of Danish residents with mental health disorders aged 18 to 90 in 2010.
The study observed death reports of 45,703 residents, and 6,002 of those deaths were categorized as sudden cardiac death. People with a history of psychiatric disorders were estimated to have a risk of sudden cardiac death between 1.79 and 6.45 times higher than the general population, and those with schizophrenia had the highest rate of cardiac-related death.
It was also determined that an 18-year-old diagnosed with some sort of psychiatric disorder was estimated to live an average of 10 years less than people without a history of mental health conditions.
Reducing Sudden Cardiac Death in Schizophrenia Patients
While living with schizophrenia historically leads to a multitude of comorbidities, including cardiac-related death, some of these comorbid conditions can be managed by following best general health practices.
To avoid sudden cardiac death specifically, patients are advised to:
The alarming correlation between schizophrenia and sudden cardiac death warrants considerable attention. But with proven methods of achieving ideal heart health, there is encouraging evidence that this association can be mitigated.
References:
Mujkanovic, J., Warming, P. E., Kessing, L. V., Køber, L. V., Winkel, B. G., Lynge, T. H., & Tfelt-Hansen, J. (2024, October 17). Nationwide burden of sudden cardiac death among patients with a psychiatric disorder. Heart. https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2024/09/17/heartjnl-2024-324092
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Mental illness. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). (1970, January 1). Common mental health disorders. Common Mental Health Disorders: Identification and Pathways to Care. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92254/
El Baou, C., Desai, R., Cooper, C., Marchant, N. L., Pilling, S., Richards, M., Saunders, R., Buckman, J. E. J., Aguirre, E., John, A., & Stott, J. (2023, April 18). Psychological therapies for depression and cardiovascular risk: Evidence from National Healthcare Records in England. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/18/1650/7097470?login=false
A recent study found a heightened risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with schizophrenia, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and intervention. Discover more about the comorbidities associated with schizophrenia and practical strategies—like exercise, diet, and therapy—to improve overall health outcomes.