How this fits in

The physical health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is often neglected, and this group of patients have higher rates of premature mortality. SMI has been associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures. This study has demonstrated that a diagnosis of SMI is a risk factor for fragility fractures in both men and women, accounting for age, social deprivation, smoking, alcohol, and body mass index. The study data suggest that osteoporosis is underdiagnosed both in men and women with SMI (with a relatively more pronounced effect in women with SMI compared with those without SMI), as well as in men without SMI. Interventions should be considered to screen for osteoporosis and mitigate the increased risk of fractures in people with SMI.