Long-term observations on the mortality of mentally ill patients admitted to a short-stay psychiatric hospital: 23 years retrospective Egyptian study

Abstract

Abstract Background Information about mortality patterns in different psychiatric populations is scanty, yet it is vital for designing successful preventive mental health strategies. In this study, we aimed to assess mortality rates and patterns for the patients admitted to Ain Shams University Institute of Psychiatry (ASUIP) with different psychiatric diagnoses from1990 to 2013. All medical records and related registration files were reviewed and investigated for death cases and their possible causes in a retrospective record linkage study. Data were recorded, tabulated, and coded to be used in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 17. Results The study identified 57 death cases in 23-years duration with a mortality rate of 3/1000. Mortality rates were more in younger patients and females. Medical comorbidity was reported in 34.8% of them. The most common known causes for death in the current sample were cardiac causes 15.2%, followed by cerebrovascular causes that were 10.9%. However, sudden or unknown causes were the most frequent diagnosis in the sample. Conclusions The institute mortality rates were lower than those of the general population during this period. The most common known death causes were cardiovascular problems, which mandates close monitoring of high-risk psychiatric patients with co-morbid cardiac problems. Unknown morality causes represented an unresolved challenge for the current registration system and the quality of care given to patients with serious mental illness.