RESUMEN
Patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic treatment present lower mortality rates than those who do not. However, the non-adherence rate is high, which can be partially addressed using long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. The impact of LAI treatments on all-cause mortality compared to oral antipsychotics remains unclear. To fill that gap, a random effects meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the odds ratio (OR) of all-cause, suicidal, and non-suicidal mortality among patients taking LAI antipsychotics compared to oral antipsychotics (PROSPERO:CRD42023391352). Individual and pooled LAI antipsychotics were analyzed against pooled oral antipsychotics. Sensitivity analyses were performed for study design, setting, and industry sponsorship. Meta-regressions were conducted for gender, age, antipsychotic dose, and race. Seventeen articles, total sample 12,042 patients (N = 5795 oral, N = 6247 LAI) were included. Lower risk of all-cause mortality for patients receiving LAI antipsychotics vs receiving oral antipsychotics was found (OR = 0.79; 95%CI = 0.66-0.95). Statistical significance was maintained when only studies comparing the same LAI and oral antipsychotic were included (OR = 0.79; 95%CI = 0.66-0.95; p = <0.01), as well as for non-suicidal mortality (OR = 0.77: 95%CI = 0.63-0.94; p = 0.01), but not for suicidal mortality (OR = 0.86; 95%CI = 0.59-1.26; p = 0.44). Mortality reduction was more pronounced for LAI antipsychotics in first-episode psychosis (FEP) (OR = 0.79; 95%CI = 0.66-0.96) compared to chronic psychosis. No individual LAI reported statistically significant differences against all pooled oral antipsychotics. LAI antipsychotics are associated with a lower risk of all-cause and non-suicidal mortality in individuals with schizophrenia compared to oral antipsychotics. Better adherence to the medication and health services may explain this difference. Whenever possible, the use of LAIs should be considered from the FEP.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a global challenge. High mortality rates have been reported in some risk groups, including patients with pre-existing mental disorders. METHODS: We used electronic health records to retrospectively identify people infected due to COVID-19 (between March 2020 and March 2021) in the three territories of the Basque Country. COVID-19 cases were defined as individuals who had tested positive on a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and multilevel analyses with generalized estimated equations were used to determine factors associated with COVID-19-related mortality and hospital admission. RESULTS: The COVID-19 mortality rate was increased for patients with psychotic disorders [odds ratio (OR) adjusted: 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.09-1.94), p = 0.0114] and patients with substance abuse [OR adjusted: 1.88, 95% CI (1.13-3.14, p < 0.0152)]. The mortality rate was lower for patients with affective disorders [OR adjusted: 0.80, 95% CI (0.61-0.99), p = 0.0407]. Hospital admission rates due to COVID-19 were higher in psychosis [OR adjusted: 2.90, 95% CI (2.36-3.56), p < 0.0001] and anxiety disorder groups [OR adjusted: 1.54, 95% CI (1.37-1.72), p < 0.0001]. Among admitted patients, COVID-19 mortality rate was decreased for those with affective disorders rate [OR adjusted: 0.72, 95% CI (0.55-0.95), p = 0.0194]. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19-related mortality and hospitalizations rates were higher for patients with a pre-existing psychotic disorder.