RECORD-CV study: recording practices of cardiovascular risk factors between psychiatry service and primary health care in individuals with severe mental illness on long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment

Jorge Manuel Silva, Catarina Sofia Pinto

Keywords: Psychiatry, Primary Health Care, Mental Disorders, Cardiovascular risk factors, Comorbidity

Background:

Severe mental illnesses (SMI) are associated with decreased life expectancy due to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).

Research questions:

This study aimed to compare CVRFs recorded at Psychiatry department (PD) and Primary Health Care (PHC) in a population of individuals with SMI, and its association with the use of PHC services.

Method:

Our sample comprised 307 patients. Clinical, sociodemographic, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index data were collected in PD during 2020 and PHC data between 2018 and 2019. Statistical analysis included bivariate and multivariate analysis, using p < 0.05 as a cut-off for statistical significance.

Results:

42.7% had high BP and 66.8% overweight recorded in PD, whereas in PHC 13.4% had known hypertension and 45.9% overweight. Fewer contacts in PHC (p<0.001) were associated with new identification of high BP and overweight. Being older and having more contact with PHC was associated with known hypertension. The latter was also associated with known overweight in PHC.

Conclusions:

There is a vulnerable population of younger individuals with SMI and fewer contacts with PHC with an increased risk of having their physical health unchecked. Better coordination between levels of care could improve health outcomes in this population.

Points for discussion:

Methods applied

Presentation of results

How to apply these data to our day-to-day setting

#115