Cardiometabolic comorbidities and life expectancy in people on medication for schizophrenia in Australia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the risks of people on medication for schizophrenia developing different components of the metabolic syndrome and their life expectancy, through reference to a representative population of Australians without schizophrenia. METHOD: Pharmacy payment-claim records from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme were analyzed based on a representative 10% sample of Medicare numbers supplied by the Department of Human Services. Records were analyzed based on the date of supply of the prescription and the dataset included year of death information. Two major analyses were conducted for 9,533 people on medication for schizophrenia and a 1:1 sex/age matched control, fo..