Effect of comorbid mental disorders on CVD and diabetes outcomes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing the impact of major mental illness on the outcomes and complications of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: a national data linkage project
IRAS ID
223452
Contact name
Caroline A Jackson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with major mental illness (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) have higher risks of chronic physical disease, particularly heart disease, stroke and diabetes, than those without major mental illness. Long-term physical disease outcomes and complications may also be worse in those with versus without mental illness. There may also be differences in the levels of physical healthcare provided. However, this is an under-studied area, particularly in countries with universal health care access, including Scotland. In this study we will investigate, among patients with diabetes, stroke and heart attack, whether co-morbid major mental illness is related to adverse health outcomes, including death, first or recurrent stroke/heart attack and diabetic complications. We will also examine the extent to which differences in key processes of care (for example diabetes monitoring, admission to stroke unit following stroke and procedures to unblock coronary blood vessels after a heart attack) exist and whether they partly explain any disparities in outcomes. We will do this by linking together and analysing multiple Scottish national population-level routine health datasets. Study findings will: deepen our understanding of the interplay between mental and physical health; have implications for health services to ensure the needs of those with major mental illness are adequately and equitably met; and help direct future research in this area.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0083
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion