Metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia: a comparative study of antipsychotic-free/naïve and antipsychotic-treated patients from India.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, metabolic syndrome (MS) has been identified as an important health risk in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders, and has often been related to the use of second-generation antipsychotics.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of MS in schizophrenia and related disorders and its correlation with various demographic, clinical and treatment variables.


METHODS
One hundred patients with schizophrenia and related disorders, 50 antipsychotic-free/naïve and 50 on antipsychotic medications for more than 3 months, attending a psychiatric outpatient setting, were assessed for various socio-demographic, clinical and metabolic parameters.


RESULTS
Subjects on treatment with antipsychotics had significantly higher mean weight, body mass index, waist circumference, calorie intake, triglycerides (TGL), very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and positive family history of diabetes mellitus compared with the antipsychotic-free/naive ones. Subjects on antipsychotics also had significantly higher prevalence of MS. A positive association of MS was observed with age, being married, higher education, executive jobs and ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia, duration of illness, family history of diabetes mellitus and family history of hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of antipsychotics increases the risk of developing hyperlipidemia and MS in patients of schizophrenia and related disorders, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring of various metabolic parameters in patients on antipsychotics.


CONCLUSIONS
1) Antipsychotics are associated with increased risk of hyperlipidemia and MS; 2) regular monitoring of lipid profile and other metabolic parameters should be done in patients on antipsychotics; 3) psychiatrists need to lay emphasis on lifestyle and dietary modifications in their patients on antipsychotics.
Department of Psychiatry, India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
Abhishek
A
Pallava
Rakesh K
RK
Chadda
Mamta
M
Sood
R
R
Lakshmy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides