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Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the association between neighborhood characteristics and type 2 diabetes (T2D) comorbidity in serious mental illness (SMI). We investigated associations of neighborhood-level crime, accessibility to health care services, availability of green spaces, neighborhood obesity, and fast food availability with SMI-T2D comorbidity. Method: A series of multilevel logistic regression models accounting for neighborhood-level clustering were used to examine the associations between 5 neighborhood variables and SMI-T2D comorbidity, sequentially adjusting for individual-level variables and neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage. Results: Individuals with SMI residing in areas with higher crime rates per 1000 population had 2.5 times increased odds of reporting T2D comorbidity compared to the individuals with SMI residing in lower crime rate areas after controlling for individual and areal level factors (95% CI 0.91-6.74). There was no evidence of association between SMI-T2D comorbidity and other neighborhood variables investigated. Conclusion: Public health strategies to reduce SMI-T2D comorbidity might benefit by targeting on individuals with SMI living in high-crime neighborhoods. Future research incorporating longitudinal designs and/or mediation analysis are warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms of association between neighborhoods and SMI-T2D comorbidity.

Aim of the Study: This review aims to systematically synthesize the body of literature examining the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and serious mental illness (SMI)–type 2 diabetes (T2D) co-occurrence. Methods: We conducted an electronic search of four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Web of Science. Studies were considered eligible if they were published in English, peer reviewed, quantitative, and focused on the association between neighborhood disadvantage and SMI-T2D comorbidity. Study conduct and reporting complied with PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol is made available at PROSPERO (CRD42017083483). Results: The one eligible study identified reported a higher burden of T2D in persons with SMI but provided only a tentative support for the association between neighborhood disadvantage and SMI-T2D co-occurrence. Conclusion: Research into neighborhood effects on SMI-T2D comorbidity is still in its infancy and the available evidence inconclusive. This points to an urgent need for attention to the knowledge gap in this important area of public health. Further research is needed to understand the health resource implications of the association between neighborhood deprivation and SMI-T2D comorbidity and the casual pathways linking them.