Bipolar Disorder increases early death risk by six times.

Bipolar Disorder increases early death risk by six times.

Bipolar Disorder Linked to Higher Risk of Early Death: Understanding the Causes and Implications

People who have bipolar disorder may have a higher risk of dying early, according to new research conducted in Finland¹. The study reveals that this increased mortality risk is influenced by external causes such as suicide, accidents, and violence, as well as physical health issues, with alcohol being a significant contributing factor².

The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, suggests that targeting interventions to address substance abuse can help reduce premature deaths associated with both external causes and physical health issues³. The researchers, led by Tapio Paljärvi from Niuvanniemi Hospital in Kuopio, Finland, emphasize the importance of suicide prevention and increasing awareness of the risk of overdose and poisonings⁴.

The research involved over 47,000 individuals between the ages of 15 and 64 with bipolar disorder⁵. The findings indicate that bipolar disorder is associated with a sixfold increase in the risk of early death from external causes and doubles the risk of death due to physical illness⁶.

During the follow-up period, spanning from 2004 to 2018, approximately 7% (3,300 individuals) of the study participants died⁷. The average age at death was 50, with 65% of the deaths occurring in men and 35% in women, despite women making up 57% of the study population⁸. Physical illness accounted for 61% of the deaths, while external causes were responsible for the remaining 39%⁹.

Among the deaths attributed to physical illness, alcohol played a significant role, being the cause of 29% of these deaths¹⁰. Heart disease and stroke accounted for 27%, cancer for 22%, respiratory disease for 4%, and 2% were attributed to diabetes¹¹. Additionally, 1% of deaths were linked to behavioral disorders associated with other substance misuse, and the remaining 15% were caused by other factors¹².

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The study also found that among the deaths related to alcohol, liver disease was responsible for 48%, accidental alcohol poisoning for 28%, and alcohol dependence for 10%¹³. Of the deaths caused by external factors, 58% were suicides, with nearly half of those (48%) resulting from overdosing on prescribed mental health medications¹⁴.

Furthermore, 64% of all deaths in the study were considered excess deaths, exceeding the expected number for the population¹⁵. The excess deaths were mainly due to alcohol, heart disease, and cancer¹⁶.

While the study excluded individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses, the researchers acknowledge that this may have led to an underestimation of excess deaths associated with bipolar disorder¹⁷. They note that a history of persistent symptoms of psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations is strongly linked to an increased risk of death¹⁸.

Based on their findings, the authors suggest revisiting the current focus on preventing excess deaths due to physical illness, as external causes appear to play a greater role¹⁹. They stress the importance of maintaining a balanced consideration between therapeutic response, potential long-term side effects of medication, and the risk of premature death from specific causes, particularly among younger individuals²⁰.

This research sheds light on the increased mortality risk faced by individuals with bipolar disorder and emphasizes the need for comprehensive interventions to address substance abuse, raise awareness about suicide prevention, and improve overall physical health management. By understanding the causes and implications, healthcare providers can better support individuals with bipolar disorder and promote their well-being.

References

SLIDESHOW: What Is Bipolar Disorder? Symptoms, Manic Episodes, Testing

See the slideshow here.