Trend in rates for deaths with mention of schizophrenia on death certificates of US residents, 1999–2010

Trends in mortality rates for schizophrenia using multiple causes of death (including contributory causes) coded on death certificates in the US resident population apparently have not been reported.

Age-standardized rates for deaths per 100,000 in 1999–2010 at age 15+ years (and for 15–64 and 65+ years) with mention of schizophrenia were examined for the US resident population, including variation by age, gender, race (blacks/African Americans and whites) and region.

Deaths at age 15+ years coded with schizophrenia as underlying cause were only 12 % of all deaths with mention of schizophrenia, for which the rate declined from 1.58 in 1999 (3,407 deaths) to 1.32 in 2010 (3,422 deaths) (percentage change or PC = −16 %). Declines were larger in females than males, in whites than blacks, and occurred in the Northeast, Midwest and South but not the West. The rate increased for age 15–64 years (PC = +28 %) (mainly in males), however, while declining for age 65+ years (PC = −35 %). For deaths at age 15–64 years with schizophrenia coded as other than the underlying cause, the largest continuous increase was for endocrine–metabolic diseases (predominantly diabetes mellitus) as underlying cause, with smaller increases in males for cardiovascular diseases, external causes and neoplasms.

Trends in the US rate for deaths with mention of schizophrenia varied among the sociodemographic groups examined. The lack of decline for age 15–64 years requires further study especially with regard to mediators (e.g., obesity) of excess mortality in schizophrenia identified from cohort studies.