The effects of schizophrenia on years of potential life lost and life expectancy seem to be substantial and not to have lessened over time, according to a recent study. Researchers searched a large database of published studies on years of potential life lost and life expectancy in schizophrenia; data from individual studies were combined in meta-analyses as weighted averages. They found:

• 11 studies in 13 publications were identified, covering all inhabited continents except South America (Africa n=1, Asia n=1, Australia n=1, Europe n=7, and North America n=3) that involved up to 247,603 patients.
• Schizophrenia was associated with a weighted average of 14.5 years of potential life lost, and was higher for men than women (15.9 [13.8–18.0] vs 13.6 [11.4–15.8]).
• Loss was least in the Asian study and greatest in Africa.
• The overall weighted average life expectancy was 64.7 years, and was lower for men than women (59.9 years vs 67.6 years).