Living with bipolar disorder, a serious mental illness that can cause extreme mood swings, is not only challenging but also linked to an increased risk of dying early. A recent study highlights the extent of this risk, comparing it with other factors known to shorten life.
Researchers found that individuals with bipolar disorder are four to six times more likely to die prematurely compared to those without the condition.
In contrast, those who had ever smoked were about twice as likely to face early death, regardless of their bipolar status.
The University of Michigan, which conducts one of the largest long-term studies on bipolar disorder, released these findings in the journal Psychiatry Research.
The research underscores the need for more proactive measures to prevent early deaths among people with bipolar disorder.
Anastasia Yocum, Ph.D., the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of examining bipolar disorder separately from other common causes of death.
The research aimed to compare the mortality risk associated with bipolar disorder against other conditions and lifestyle choices linked to early death.
Using data from 1,128 volunteers, the study revealed that among the 56 deaths recorded since 2006, almost all were individuals with bipolar disorder.
After adjusting for various factors, the data showed that a bipolar diagnosis increased the likelihood of dying within a 10-year period sixfold compared to those without the disorder.
Additionally, participants who had ever smoked or were over 60 years old were twice as likely to die within the same period, regardless of bipolar status.
The team then validated their findings with a second data source: patient records from over 18,000 individuals at Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center.
This analysis confirmed that people with bipolar disorder were four times more likely to die during the study period than those without the disorder.
High blood pressure was the only condition associated with a higher mortality risk than bipolar disorder in this group. Hypertensive individuals were five times more likely to die than those with normal blood pressure, regardless of bipolar status.
Smokers and those over 60 had a doubled and tripled risk of early death, respectively, irrespective of bipolar condition.
The study also noted that individuals with bipolar disorder were more likely to have smoked and more likely to be female.
In the Prechter cohort, people with bipolar disorder had a higher prevalence of asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines, fibromyalgia, and thyroid conditions.
Among Prechter study participants with bipolar disorder, smoking and higher depression scores doubled the risk of death compared to those who didn’t smoke or had lower depression scores.
However, no link was found between mortality risk and the duration of mental health medication use or scores for anxiety and mania.
Interestingly, among the U-M patient sample with bipolar disorder, high blood pressure also significantly increased the risk of death, while smoking doubled it. Unfortunately, data on depression scores or medication use over time was not available for this group.
Both Yocum and McInnis stress the importance of these findings. They suggest that understanding the health status, health risk behaviors, and specific causes of death for people with bipolar disorder could guide efforts to improve their health and quality of life.
Research shows that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, increasing their risk for diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.
This is partly due to the medications for bipolar disorder and the secondary effects of the disorder’s symptoms, such as inactivity, poor diet, substance abuse, and lower education and employment rates. Consistent access to healthcare and health insurance coverage are also concerns.
The researchers advocate for more education on coping with stress, distress, and mood fluctuations, particularly for teens and adults.
They emphasize the need for early intervention, as bipolar disorder often begins with depression, and there’s no reliable way to predict who will develop the condition, although a family history increases the risk.
Genetic research, including studies at the Prechter Program, is exploring these factors. Yocum points out that bipolar disorder may not be listed as a direct cause of death but can contribute to it, including in cases of suicide.
Similarly, McInnis notes that while smoking might not appear on death certificates, it’s a well-known major risk factor for life-shortening diseases.
In conclusion, the study calls for a greater societal effort to understand why people with bipolar disorder face more health issues and risky behaviors, and to help them live healthier lives with consistent access to care.
If you care about health, please read studies that vegetarian diet may increase your depression risk, and Vitamin D could help reduce depression symptoms.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and these antioxidants could help reduce the risk of dementia.
The research findings can be found in Psychiatry Research.
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