Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Health Care Use in People with and Without Schizophrenia

Purpose: To 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 METHODS: Data 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.

Results: A 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/conclusion: Our 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.