Life expectancy and potential years of life lost for schizophrenia in western China

Excess mortality in people with schizophrenia has been extensively reported. However, little is known about the life expectancy and potential years of life lost (PYLL) in western China. This study aimed to estimated life expectancy and PYLL for people with schizophrenia in western China. A total of 228,572 people with schizophrenia were included from National Information System for Psychosis in one province of western China. Life-expectancy was calculated by using Chiang's method. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the age-sex standardized PYLL for different causes of death among different demographic characteristics groups. Life expectancy for men and women with schizophrenia was 52.8 years and 59.0 years respectively. The overall PYLL of people with schizophrenia was 18.4 years, and suicide had the largest PYLL (31.2 years) among all causes of mortality. The PYLL due to suicide was significantly higher among men, high school and above, non-poverty, non-farmer and divorced people with schizophrenia. The PYLL due to diseases and medical conditions was higher among men, illiteracy, farmer and unmarried people with schizophrenia. Strategies to prevent causes of premature death in schizophrenia are urgently required in western China, particularly in the promotion of physical health and prevention of suicide.