2023-09-18 19:16:45
During a “heat dome” in British Columbia in 2021, people with schizophrenia were three times more likely to die than usual. More and more researchers are looking into the phenomenon.
Posted at 3:16 p.m.
Chronic diseases
Epidemiologists from the British Columbia Center for Disease Control (BCCDC) wanted to assess diseases that increase the risk of heat stroke. “We traditionally talk about people who have kidney and heart problems,” says BCCDC’s Michael Lee, who is lead author of the study published in March in the journal GeoHealth. “During the heat dome of June 2021, mortality doubled in the province. To our great surprise, 8.3% of those who died were schizophrenic. The risk is much, much higher than for kidney and heart problems. »
Around the world
The impact of heatwaves on mental health has been under the microscope of researchers for around thirty years. In 2021, an Australian study reported around fifty studies on the subject. “The Australians reported similar results to ours, but they used schizophrenia symptoms, so it’s less precise. We didn’t think the impact would be so high. » The impact of dementia is less significant in Mr. Lee’s study than in other studies. “There may be more attention to patients here, and more air conditioning. » In 2012, a Quebec study reported an increase of between 3% and 5% in visits to psychiatric emergencies when it was 25 degrees rather than 20 degrees.
Prevention
The main lesson from Mr. Lee’s study is prevention. “Carers and relatives of people with mental health problems must be aware of the increased risk they have during heatwaves, particularly for schizophrenics. » Currently, heat alert messages mainly target the elderly and people with heart problems. “It’s certain that there are more people who have heart problems than schizophrenics,” says Mr. Lee. So the population impact of the increased risk has a big impact, even if the increase is less strong than for schizophrenia. »
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE BCCDC SITE
Michael Lee of the British Columbia Center for Disease Control (BCCDC), lead author of the study published in March in the journal GeoHealth
Antipsychotics
The Vancouver epidemiologist now wants to compare the records of schizophrenics who died and who survived the heat dome of 2021. “The antipsychotics prescribed to them can affect the regions of the brain responsible for regulating body heat. Some antipsychotics may be worse than others. » A Swedish study published in 2018 in theInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Healthwhich focused on the biological mechanisms explaining the negative impact of heat waves on schizophrenia, noted that antipsychotics can also increase brain temperature.
Hypothalamus
Another explanation for the vulnerability of schizophrenics to heat waves lies in the neurological abnormalities that underlie the disease. “People with schizophrenia often have difficulty sensing signals from their body,” says Lee. This can lead to them not realizing they have heatstroke. The hypothalamus, responsible for regulating heat through sweating, is also affected. » Sleep problems associated with schizophrenia are also exacerbated by heat.
Solitude et intoxication
Mr Lee also wants to have socio-economic and toxicological data on heat dome deaths in 2021. “We know that people who are alone and have problems with drug and alcohol use have more problems during heatwaves. Poverty also plays a role. These are factors often associated with schizophrenia. This could also explain why in certain studies we see a higher risk for depressives during heatwaves. » At the end of June, the BCCDC revealed that 15% of people who died during the 2021 heat dome were receiving social assistance, which equates to a mortality risk twice as high as average.
Learn more
1% Proportion of schizophrenics in the British Columbia population
SOURCE : GEOHEALTH
2.7% Proportion of schizophrenics among normal deaths in British Columbia
SOURCE : GEOHEALTH
8.3% Proportion of schizophrenics among deaths during the June 2021 heat dome in British Columbia
SOURCE : GEOHEALTH
1.4 times increased risk of dying for kidney patients during June 2021 heat dome in British Columbia
SOURCE : GEOHEALTH
1.2 times increased risk of dying for heart patients during the June 2021 heat dome in British Columbia
SOURCE : GEOHEALTH
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#Heat #stroke #schizophrenics