Mental Illness, Poverty, and Excess Mortality Pubblico

Abstract

Abstract

Mental Illness, Poverty, and Excess Mortality
By Mary Jane Mason

Objectives: To determine the extent of excess mortality in persons with mental illness from a
nationally representative sample and to examine the contribution of socioeconomic status
(SES) and health status to excess mortality within that population.

Methods: This prospective cohort study used data from the 1989 National Health Interview
Survey and linked mortality data from the National Death Index (1989-2003) to examine the
effect of self-reported mental illness on aggregate mortality using age-adjusted death rates
(AADR) and years of potential life lost (YPLL). Survival analyses examined how much of
this excess mortality is explained by SES and health status.

Results: Presence of a mental illness was associated with a significant risk of excess mortality,
(HR=1.975, 95% CI=1.763 - 2.212). SES explained approximately 30% of the variance of
the effect of mental illness on mortality and an additional 49% of the variance was explained
by health status.

Conclusions: SES and health status are significant mediators of premature mortality in
individuals reporting mental illness, and together explain nearly 80 percent of that excess
mortality. Strategies to reduce mortality in this population should consider the relationship
between mental illness, poverty, and poor health.

Mental Illness, Poverty, and Excess Mortality
By
Mary Jane Mason
BS, University of Florida, 2005
Thesis Committee Chair: Jerome L. Abramson, PhD
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the
Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Public Health
in Epidemiology
2011

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Page 1

Introduction

Page 2
Methods

Page 5
Results

Page 7
Discussion

Page 11
References

Page 14
Tables and Figures

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Mental Health
Parola chiave	mortality, disparities, mental illness
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Abramson, Jerome, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Does not apply (no collaborating organization)

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