Blood pressure changes during clozapine or olanzapine treatment in Korean schizophrenic patients.
BACKGROUND
Numerous reports have linked atypical antipsychotics, especially clozapine and olanzapine, to the development of cardiovascular risk factors. In this retrospective chart review study, we investigated the blood pressure changes in Korean schizophrenic inpatients treated with clozapine or olanzapine.


METHODS
We reviewed the medical record of schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine or olanzapine for 8 weeks. A total of 167 patients were included in the study; 70 patients in clozapine group and 97 patients in olanzapine group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures prior to medication and at post-treatment (8-week) were assessed, and changes in blood pressure were analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension at the time of study period was assessed and compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in hypertension prevalence in comparisons between the clozapine and olanzapine group. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the clozapine group were significantly increased after treatment, but systolic and diastolic blood pressures in olanzapine group did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that clozapine treatment may be associated with increased blood pressure and higher prevalence of hypertension, which may have a significant impact on medical morbidity and mortality.
Woo
Young Sup
YS
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Won
W
Chae
Jeong-Ho
JH
Yoon
Bo-Hyun
BH
Bahk
Won-Myong
WM
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003024:Clozapine; D000077152:Olanzapine