Bella Mehrotra
Bella Mehrotra completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science in 2021. She is currently a higher degree research candidate enrolled in a Masters of Medical Research at Griffith University. Her research focus is on the relationship between cardiovascular disease and serious mental illness.
Abstract
Title: Exploring modifiable cardiovascular risk in people experiencing serious mental illness
Author(s): Bella Mehrotra
Introduction: Serious mental illness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from long-term health conditions including cardiovascular disease. A major cause is elevated cardiovascular risk associated with modifiable physical and lifestyle factors, symptoms of mental illness, medication use, and systemic failures of the healthcare system to adequately manage these. Understanding cardiovascular risk in this population will inform implementation of prevention and intervention strategies to close the health outcomes gap.
Method: The study cohort included 348 people living in the community experiencing serious mental illness who had available baseline data as part of the Bridging the Gap between Physical and Mental Illness in Community Pharmacy (PharMIbridge) RCT. Descriptive analyses were undertaken with demographics, physical and lifestyle risk factors, engagement with health services and medication data.
Results & Findings: Findings support other literature that people with serious mental illness experience an overall increase in modifiable cardiovascular risk compared to the general population. Results highlight major risk factors which may be overlooked in discussions of physical and mental health, such as exercise and diet, and stereotypes of high rates of alcohol and nicotine use in this population may not be accurate. Data also reflect a focus on mental healthcare over physical health-related screening, prevention, and treatment programs. This provides future research directions to explore underlying causes of these issues.
Discussion: Findings support other literature that people with serious mental illness experience an overall increase in modifiable cardiovascular risk compared to the general population. Results highlight major risk factors which may be overlooked in discussions of physical health and mental illness, such as exercise and diet, whilst indicating that common stereotypes of high rates of alcohol and nicotine use are not accurate. The data also reflect a focus on participants mental health care over physical health-related screening, prevention, and treatment programs. This provides direction for future research to explore the underlying causes of these issues.
Funding/Registration
The PharMIbridge RCT, on which the analysis presented in this activity is based, received grant funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Registration: ACTRN12620000577910.
