Association of ambient temperature with mortality in community-based patients with severe mental disorders: a time-stratified case-crossover study in western China - Scorecard - MDSpire
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Impact of Environmental Temperature on Mortality Rates in Community-Dwelling Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Analysis in Western China

  • By

  • Bo Yi

  • Chuanlong Zuo

  • Sheng Chen

  • Xianmei Yang

  • Jun Liu

  • Xing Zhao

  • Ruoxin Fan

  • Yuanyuan Liu

  • Xiang Liu

  • December 13, 2025

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Clinical Scorecard: Impact of Environmental Temperature on Mortality Rates in Community-Dwelling Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Analysis in Western China

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionSevere mental disorders (SMDs) including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, paranoid psychosis, bipolar affective disorder, epilepsy-induced mental disorders, and mental retardation with mental disorders
Key MechanismsAmbient temperature extremes (high and low) affect mortality through impaired thermoregulation from psychotropic medications, functional/cognitive limitations, and exacerbation of physical comorbidities
Target PopulationCommunity-based patients with severe mental disorders in western China
Care SettingCommunity-based comprehensive management and treatment programs for severe mental disorders

Key Highlights

  • Mortality rate among patients with SMDs is more than twice that of the general population.
  • This study is the first to comprehensively assess high, low, and extreme temperature events on mortality in community-managed SMD patients using individual-level temperature data.
  • Analysis stratified by demographic factors (age, gender, economic status) to identify vulnerable subpopulations.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Use ICD-10 codes to identify severe mental disorders in community-based populations.

Management

  • Implement community-based comprehensive management programs for patients with SMDs.
  • Consider environmental temperature exposures when managing patients with SMDs, especially during hot and cold seasons.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Routine follow-up to ascertain mortality and cause of death through official death certificates.
  • Monitor temperature-related risks seasonally (hot season: May–September; cold season: November–February).

Risks

  • Patients with SMDs are at increased risk of mortality during extreme temperature events due to impaired thermoregulation and comorbidities.
  • Psychotropic medications may impair patients' ability to respond to temperature extremes.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Community-dwelling individuals with severe mental disorders in western China

Psychotropic medications may contribute to impaired thermoregulation, increasing vulnerability to temperature extremes and mortality risk.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Incorporate environmental temperature considerations into risk assessments for patients with SMDs.
  • Educate patients and caregivers about the risks of temperature extremes and appropriate protective behaviors.
  • Enhance monitoring and support during identified high-risk seasons (hot and cold).
  • Use individual-level temperature exposure data to tailor interventions and public health strategies.

References

Original Source(s)

Association of ambient temperature with mortality in community-based patients with severe mental disorders: a time-stratified case-crossover study in western China

  • by Bo Yi, Chuanlong Zuo, Sheng Chen, Xianmei Yang, Jun Liu, Xing Zhao, Ruoxin Fan, Yuanyuan Liu, Xiang Liu

  • December 13, 2025

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