Lifestyles and cardiovascular risk in individuals with functional psychoses.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine known determinants of cardiovascular risk in Italian patients with functional psychoses.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was used to examine cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors of 123 individuals with functional psychosis and compare clinically relevant data with those of the general Italian population.


RESULTS
A significant proportion of patients manifested frank hypertension (6.9%), hypercholesterolemia (20.5%), diabetes (6.5%), or a body mass index of more than 30 (20.3%). Many also smoked (63.0%) or ingested alcohol every day (26.0%), did not eat fruits or vegetables (8.0%), or did not exercise on a daily basis (34.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with psychosis manifest significant rates of potentially reversible risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Mental health nurses should advocate for and implement well-resourced counseling programs to reduce the prevalence of smoking and metabolic syndrome in mental health populations.
Department of Psychobehavioural Health Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. p.fusar@libero.it
Paolo
P
Fusar-Poli
Luca
L
De Marco
Francesca
F
Cavallin
Andrea
A
Bertorello
Matteo
M
Nicolasi
Pierluigi
P
Politi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult