Gender Differences of Persons with Schizophrenia in Rural China

Abstract

The gender characteristics of persons with schizophrenia in rural community are still unknown. The goal of this study is to explore the gender differences of persons with schizophrenia in a longitudinal study in rural China. METHODS: A 10-year follow-up investigation among a 1994 cohort (n = 510) of patients with schizophrenia was conducted in Xinjin County, Chengdu, China. All the patients and their informants (100%) were followed up in 2004 using Patients Follow-up Scale (PFS). RESULTS: The results indicated that male patients had significantly higher level of education and rates of unmarried and divorced than females. Female patients had significantly more family members. Male patients had significantly worse social function. The rate of homelessness was significantly higher in male than female (Log-rank test, v2 = 4.00, P < .05). The mortality rate was significantly higher in male {2913 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI = 2174–3652)} than female patients {1661 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI = 1150–2172)} (Hazard ratio 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3–3.2, P < .005). Although there were no significant differences of suicidal attempts between male and female patients, the suicide rate was significantly higher in male {753 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI = 373–1133)} than female patients {249 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI = 50–448)} (Hazard ratio 3.1, 95% CI = 1.2–8.0, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of male patients is worse than females in rural China. Higher mortality and suicide in male than female patients may contribute to the higher prevalence of schizophrenia in women than in men in China. Specific intervention strategies for improving the outcome of the illness should be developed for male and female patients with schizophrenia. Acknowledgments: This work was supported in part by GRIP 1 R01 TW007260–01 (M.S. Ran, PI) from the Fogarty International Center of NIH.