Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

October 8, 2020

Increased Risk of COVID ‐19 Infection and Mortality in People with Mental Disorders: Analysis from Electronic Health Records in the United States

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  • An analysis of a nation-wide electronic health record database in the US with patient data up to July 2020 shows that patients with a recent diagnosis of a mental health disorder had a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with COVID-19. The effect was strongest among those diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia. Among those diagnosed with a mental health disorder, African American people and women were disproportionately affected. Among those diagnosed with COVID-19, death rates were 8.5% and 4.7%, and hospitalization rates were 27.4% and 18.6%, among patients with and without a diagnosed mental disorder, respectively.

Wang et al. (Oct 7, 2020). Increased Risk of COVID ‐19 Infection and Mortality in People with Mental Disorders: Analysis from Electronic Health Records in the United States. World Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20806