Differences in aerobic fitness between inpatients and outpatients with severe mental disorders
Journal article, Peer reviewed
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2357833Utgivelsesdato
2014Metadata
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Sammendrag
Background: Patients with severe mental disorders have increased mortality, and cardiovascular
disease (CVD) accounts for a large part. Physical inactivity and low aerobic fitness
have been recognized as significant risk factors for CVD. In this study, we investigated the
differences in aerobic fitness and physical activity between in- and outpatients with severe
mental disorders.
Method and Subjects: Fifty in- and outpatients from a regional psychiatric department
were included. The patients filled in a questionnaire on physical activity and completed a
clinical examination. An estimation of aerobic fitness was calculated for each patient, using
gender, age, waist circumference, resting heart rate, and physical activity level as variables.
Results: Inpatients had lower estimated aerobic fitness than outpatients (VO2peak 42
vs. 50mLkg-1 min-1, p <0.001). Compared to population data matched for age and gender,
inpatients had lower aerobic fitness, while outpatients were not different from the
population average.
Conclusion: Inpatients at a psychiatric department had lower estimated aerobic fitness
than outpatients, and a lower aerobic fitness compared to the general population. Our
findings suggest that inpatients with severe mental disorders should be considered a high
risk group for CVD.