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People with mental disorders have higher mortality from lifestyle diseases than the general population. Forensic mental health patients (FMHPs) are often hospitalised for longer periods of time than non-FMHPs. Thus, hospitalisation may have a greater effect on the risk of lifestyle diseases in FMHPs. Investigate associations between proportional hospitalisation time (PHT) and change in body weight or other cardiometabolic risk factors among FMHPs. Retrospective cohort study including all FMHPs with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, prescribed antipsychotics, and treated between 01 January 2016 and 06 April 2020 in the Region of Southern Denmark either in forensic units or as outpatients. Associations between PHT and, respectively, primary and secondary outcomes were analysed using linear regression. PHT was determined between each measurement of the outcomes as the number of days hospitalised divided by the total number of days within the time-period. The primary outcome was weight change and secondary outcomes were change in waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, estimated average glucose (eAG), HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Analyses were adjusted for gender, age, smoking, and antipsychotics. The cohort included 490 FMHPs, of which 440 were diagnosed with schizophrenia. PHT had a significant positive dose-response association with weight change, with an estimated difference of +4.0 kg/year for FMHPs who were hospitalised 100% of the time, compared to FMHPs who were exclusively treated as outpatients. The association interacted with baseline BMI. From the secondary outcomes, the association with PHT was only statistically significant for WC. PHT was positively associated with weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject: People with mental disorders have increased risk of dying from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases compared to the general population. Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are preventable by improved lifestyle regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and dietary behaviours.Forensic mental health service users are treated for longer periods of time compared to non‐forensic mental health service users, giving the opportunity to affect the lifestyle for a substantial period of time. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: This review gathers existing research on forensic mental health service users' lifestyle regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and dietary behaviours and factors influencing it. The lifestyle was found to be unfavourable with many patients being smokers, having problematic alcohol consumption, being physically inactive and eating a diet of poor nutritional value and rich in calories. Therefore, it seems likely that an unfavourable lifestyle is one reason for the excess mortality from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.Smoking cessation and improving dietary habits was perceived difficult, but nicotine replacement and practical advice was suggested to support a change. What are the implications for practice: The treatment period gives an opportunity to improve the lifestyle of forensic mental health service users to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in this high‐risk group.We recommend a holistic approach, when planning the prevention activities, since activities that are perceived fun are more likely to succeed. Introduction: People with mental disorders have increased risk of dying from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, both of which can be prevented by lifestyle. Aim: To review existing research, in order to investigate the characteristics of, and factors that influence forensic mental health service users' (FMU) health behaviours. Method: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Scopus for primary research on FMU's health behaviours regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and dietary behaviours, and factors that influence them. Results: We found 13 eligible studies. The findings consistently indicated the presence of unfavourable health behaviours in FMU: Smoking, problematic alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and a high‐calorie diet of poor nutritional value. Changing smoking and dietary habits was perceived as difficult, but nicotine replacement and practical advice were suggested to support change. Discussion: The existing research on FMU's health behaviours is sparse. In particular, there is a lack of research on factors that influence health behaviours. From our findings, it seems likely that FMU's unfavourable health behaviours contribute to their increased risk of dying from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Implications for practice: FMU's health behaviours should be improved to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in this high‐risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]