[Risk of cardiovascular mortality of hospitalized psychiatric patients].

In a long-term study involving 783 psychic patients (361 men and 422 women) ranging in age between 40 and 70 years and hospitalised for extended periods of time, who had been examined for the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, the cardiovascular mortality was registered for a period of 10 years. Using a multiple logistic model, an attempt was made at assessing the mortality risk in dependence on 14 parameters. The most conclusive predictor proved to be the pathological ECG which was seen to reflect seven times a higher risk. In addition to age and sex - the cardiovascular mortality of men was twice and a half that of women - hypertension and increased serum cholesterol levels among the known risk factors revealed a significant influence with little less than a doubling of the risk. On the other hand, a correlation to cardiovascular mortality was neither established for the kind of psychic disease nor for the kind of psychopharmacotherapy.