Pre-existing chronic physical morbidity and excess mortality in people with schizophrenia: a population-based cohort study.

Schizophrenia patients with pre-existing physical morbidity had two-fold increased risk of premature mortality compared to those without physical morbidity. Physical multimorbidity confers incremental impact on excess mortality. Early detection and intervention of physical morbidity in the initial phase of schizophrenia is necessary to reduce avoidable mortality.