Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and health care use in people with and without schizophrenia

PurposeTo compare the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CV-RF) and disease (CV-D) and health care use in people with and without schizophrenia.Subjects/materials and methodsData from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), cycle 3.1, were used. Prevalence of CV-RF, CV-D, and health care use were compared in those with and without schizophrenia using logistic regression analysis. Sampling weights and bootstrap variance estimates were used to account for survey design.ResultsA total of 399 (0.3%) people with schizophrenia were identified and compared to 120,044 (97.7%) people without. Individuals with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to be obese (34.8% vs. 15.6%) and report diabetes (11.9% vs. 5.3%). After accounting for sociodemographic variables, schizophrenia was not independently associated with diabetes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.86; 0.49–1.51). Individuals with schizophrenia were more likely to be hospitalized (21.9% vs. 8.0%; aOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.51–3.74) but no more likely to visit their physician (86.7% vs. 85.7%; aOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.65–2.35).Discussion/conclusionOur findings suggest that people with schizophrenia access the primary health care system at least as frequently as someone without schizophrenia, and the opportunity for management of modifiable CV-RF exists in this vulnerable population.