Cardiovascular risk in patients admitted for psychosis compared with findings from a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia and related psychoses are associated with excess morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Single-site studies on CVD-related risk factors in representative samples of acutely admitted inpatients are scarce.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the levels of risk factors related to CVD in patients acutely admitted to hospital for symptoms of psychosis.


METHODS
Eligible patients aged 18-65 years were included consecutively in the Bergen Psychosis Project (BPP). CVD-related risk factors were recorded at admittance and at discharge or after 6 weeks at the latest. The recordings of 218 patients with psychosis (BPP) were compared with the findings of 50,219 subjects from the population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 1995-97 (HUNT2) survey.


RESULTS
Diastolic blood pressures were higher for BPP women and men, whereas body mass indexes (BMIs) and total cholesterol levels were higher in HUNT2 women and men. On categorical measures, smoking was more prevalent in the patients compared with the HUNT2 subjects. Metabolic syndrome was present in 11.8% and 21.9% of BPP women and men, respectively. At discharge or 6 weeks from admission, 3.2% and 18.6% of BPP women and men, respectively, had metabolic syndrome. BMIs and total cholesterol levels had worsened during the inpatient treatment period. Only one patient had a diagnosis corresponding to the CVD risk found, and only four patients received antidiabetics, antihypertensives or lipid-lowering drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Some CVD-related risk factors were high in the patients at admission, some worsened and CVD risk factors seem to be suboptimally addressed, which should warrant increased awareness on the topic in clinical practice.
Johnsen
Erik
E
Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, Sandviken, Pb 23, N-5812 Bergen, Norway. erij@ihelse.net
Gjestad
Rolf
R
Kroken
Rune A
RA
Mellesdal
Liv
L
Løberg
Else-Marie
EM
Jørgensen
Hugo A
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D002784:Cholesterol