A groundbreaking study from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has unveiled alarming statistics – individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) are more than three times as likely to die from non-COVID respiratory infections compared to the general population.
The findings, recently published in eClinicalMedicine, underscore the urgent need to prioritize preventative strategies such as flu and pneumococcal vaccines for individuals with SMI.
While much attention has been placed on the heightened risk of COVID-19 for this population, the study sheds light on the broader spectrum of infectious diseases that pose a threat.
By reviewing 29 studies and conducting a meta-analysis, researchers determined that individuals with SMI face more than double the risk of dying from infectious diseases, and over three times the risk of succumbing to non-COVID respiratory infections. The mortality rate from pneumonia, in particular, was found to be more than four times higher.
Professor Ioannis Bakolis, a renowned expert in Public Mental Health and Statistics at King’s IoPPN and the senior author of the study, emphasized the need for greater awareness and protective measures for those with SMI. He stated, “Our study underscores the significantly elevated mortality risk associated with infectious diseases in individuals with SMI. It is imperative that public health policies are adapted to provide adequate support and protection for this vulnerable group.”
The research team identified several factors that contribute to the heightened risk faced by individuals with SMI. Amy Ronaldson, a MQ Research Fellow at King’s IoPPN and the study’s lead author, explained, “The complexities of SMI make it challenging to pinpoint a singular cause for the increased susceptibility. It is likely a combination of factors including existing health disparities, lack of access to healthcare, stigma, and potential alterations in the immune system linked to mental illness, that contribute to the heightened vulnerability to infectious diseases experienced by individuals managing SMI.”
The study was made possible through the support of the MQ Mental Health Research Fellowship and funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
