High Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Mental Illness Among Victims of Sudden Death. Issue 2 (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sadaf, Murrium I.; Caldwell, Marie; Young, Laura A.; Mirzaei, Mojtaba; Chen, Sarah; Joodi, Golsa; Lin, Feng-Chang; Wu, Yunhan; Simpson, Ross J.
• Is Part Of: Southern medical journal. Volume 114:Issue 2(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: mental illness -- poorly controlled diabetes mellitus -- preventive cardiology -- sudden death; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-4348

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and is associated with sudden death. Mental illness among individuals with DM may confound medical care. This study assessed the association of mental illness with DM and poorly controlled DM in sudden death victims. Methods: We screened out-of-hospital deaths ages 18 to 64 years in Wake County, North Carolina from 2013 to 2015 to adjudicate sudden deaths. We abstracted demographics and clinical characteristics from health records. Mental illness included anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. Poorly controlled DM was defined as a hemoglobin A1c >8 or taking ≥3 medications for glycemic control. Logistic regression assessed the association between DM and mental illness. Results: Among victims with available records, 109 (29.4%) had DM. Of those, 62 (56.9%) had mental illness. Mental illness was present in 53.42% and 63.89% of victims with mild and poorly controlled DM, respectively. Mental illness was associated with DM (adjusted odds ratio 2.46, 95% confidence interval 1.57–3.91). Victims with poorly controlled DM were more likely to have mental illness (adjusted odds ratio 2.66, 95% confidence interval 1.14–6.18). Conclusions: DM is a common comorbid condition in sudden death victims. Among victims, mental illness is associated with the control of DM. Early management of comorbid mental illnesses may improve the care of patients with DM and reduce the incidence of sudden death. Abstract : This retrospective study assessed the association of mental illness with diabetes mellitus and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus in sudden death victims in Wake County, North Carolina. Mental illness included anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. Logistic regression assessed the association between diabetes mellitus and mental illness. Victims with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus were more likely to have mental illness. Among victims, mental illness is associated with diabetes mellitus and the control of diabetes mellitus.