A comparison of type 2 diabetes outcomes among persons with and without severe mental illnesses.
OBJECTIVE
Type 2 diabetes is an important comorbid medical condition associated with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to compare glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels of patients who had type 2 diabetes and schizophrenia with those of patients who had type 2 diabetes and major mood disorders and those who had type 2 diabetes but who did not have severe mental illness.


METHODS
A sample of 300 patients with type 2 diabetes was recruited from community mental health centers in the greater Baltimore region and nearby primary care clinics. Of these, 100 had schizophrenia, 101 had a major mood disorder, and 99 had no identified severe mental illness. HbA(1c), the main outcome measure, was compared between the group with schizophrenia and the other two groups.


RESULTS
All three groups had HbA(1c) values above recommended levels. HbA(1c) levels were significantly lower among patients with schizophrenia than among patients who did not have severe mental illness but were not significantly different from those of patients who had major mood disorders. Patients for whom olanzapine was prescribed had higher HbA(1c) levels than those for whom other antipsychotic agents were prescribed.


CONCLUSIONS
All three groups of patients require improved diabetes treatment to achieve acceptable HbA(1c) levels. There may be previously unrecognized benefits for diabetes management among persons with severe mental illnesses who are receiving regular mental heath care, but these individuals may also have risk factors that can influence diabetes outcomes and HbA(1c) levels.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, MSTF/300, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. ldixon@psych.umaryland.edu
Lisa B
LB
Dixon
Julie A
JA
Kreyenbuhl
Faith B
FB
Dickerson
Thomas W
TW
Donner
Clayton H
CH
Brown
Karen
K
Wohlheiter
Karen
K
Wolheiter
Leticia
L
Postrado
Richard W
RW
Goldberg
LiJuan
L
Fang
Christopher
C
Marano
Erick
E
Messias
D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003710:Demography; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D000077152:Olanzapine