TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 prevalence and mortality among schizophrenia patients
T2 - A large-scale retrospective cohort study
AU - Tzur Bitan, Dana
AU - Krieger, Israel
AU - Kridin, Khalaf
AU - Komantscher, Doron
AU - Scheinman, Yochai
AU - Weinstein, Orly
AU - Cohen, Arnon Dov
AU - Cicurel, Assi Albert
AU - Feingold, Daniel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/9/1
Y1 - 2021/9/1
N2 - Objective: Individuals with schizophrenia may be at an increased risk for COVID-19 morbidity due to the disease characteristics. In this study, we aimed to explore the odds of significant COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among schizophrenia patients while controlling for potential sociodemographic and medical confounders. Methods: Schizophrenia patients and age-and-sex matched controls (total n = 51 078) were assessed for frequency of COVID-19 positivity, hospitalizations, and mortality. The odds for COVID-19-associated hospitalization and mortality were calculated using logistic regression models, while controlling for age, sex, marital status, sector, socioeconomic status, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, smoking, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia were less likely to test positive for COVID-19; however, they were twice as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 (OR 2.15 95% CI 1.63-2.82, P <. 0001), even after controlling for sociodemographic and clinical risk factors (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.39-2.55, P <. 0001). Furthermore, they were 3 times more likely to experience COVID-19 mortality (OR 3.27 95% CI 1.39-7.68, P <. 0001), compared to controls. Conclusions: We found evidence of associations between schizophrenia and increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality compared to controls regardless of sociodemographic and medical factors. As these patients present with a combination of potential risk factors for mortality, efforts should be made to minimize the effects of the pandemic on this vulnerable population.
AB - Objective: Individuals with schizophrenia may be at an increased risk for COVID-19 morbidity due to the disease characteristics. In this study, we aimed to explore the odds of significant COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among schizophrenia patients while controlling for potential sociodemographic and medical confounders. Methods: Schizophrenia patients and age-and-sex matched controls (total n = 51 078) were assessed for frequency of COVID-19 positivity, hospitalizations, and mortality. The odds for COVID-19-associated hospitalization and mortality were calculated using logistic regression models, while controlling for age, sex, marital status, sector, socioeconomic status, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, smoking, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia were less likely to test positive for COVID-19; however, they were twice as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 (OR 2.15 95% CI 1.63-2.82, P <. 0001), even after controlling for sociodemographic and clinical risk factors (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.39-2.55, P <. 0001). Furthermore, they were 3 times more likely to experience COVID-19 mortality (OR 3.27 95% CI 1.39-7.68, P <. 0001), compared to controls. Conclusions: We found evidence of associations between schizophrenia and increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality compared to controls regardless of sociodemographic and medical factors. As these patients present with a combination of potential risk factors for mortality, efforts should be made to minimize the effects of the pandemic on this vulnerable population.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Cohort
KW - Hospitalization
KW - Mortality
KW - Schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109430404&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/schbul/sbab012
DO - 10.1093/schbul/sbab012
M3 - Article
C2 - 33604657
AN - SCOPUS:85109430404
SN - 0586-7614
VL - 47
SP - 1211
EP - 1217
JO - Schizophrenia Bulletin
JF - Schizophrenia Bulletin
IS - 5
ER -
