Cardiovascular disease risk across psychosocial and genetic factors in severe mental disorders

Abstract

The aim of the thesis was to increase knowledge about cardiovascular disease (CVD) in severe mental disorders (SMDs). We examined the level of CVD risk factors during the past decade in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We also assessed whether loneliness shares a genetic basis with SMDs and CVD. Finally, we investigated genetic overlap between bipolar disorder and CVD. The level of CVD risk factors was higher in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared to controls and the general population. There was no reduction in CVD risk factors in schizophrenia during the past decade, while modest improvements were seen in bipolar disorder. Further, a substantial part of the genetic architecture of loneliness appears to influence SMDs and CVD. There was also extensive bidirectional genic overlap between bipolar disorder and CVD risk. The results indicate that CVD risk has remained high in schizophrenia with moderate improvements in bipolar disorder the last decade. The genetic discoveries provide novel insights into the shared genetic underpinnings of SMDs, loneliness and CVD