Mental ill-health and hospital care for heart attack v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Severe mental illness and receipt of acute cardiac care and mortality following myocardial infarction
IRAS ID
314045
Contact name
Caroline Jackson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Severe mental illness (SMI), which includes conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, affects about one in ten people. People with SMI die 10-20 years sooner than the general population. This is mainly due to poorer physical health, in particular a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes conditions such as heart attack. After a heart attack, people with SMI are more likely to die than those without SMI. The reasons for this are not well understood, but differences in delivery of clinical care may contribute. We also do not know whether any differences in delivery of care and risk of dying after a heart attack have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this project, we will use data from electronic patient records to study links between SMI and (1) care provided in hospitals after a heart attack and (2) death following a heart attack and (3) whether these have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help us to understand our findings from this work and to provide insight into experiences of the care pathway we will interview patients with SMI who have had a heart attack and a family member/carer, as well as relevant health care workers involved with hospital care for patients with a heart attack. Our project will identify points in the care pathway where patients with SMI may be disadvantaged and/or where healthcare workers could be better supported to deliver the best possible care for these vulnerable patients.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
22/WS/0141
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion