Diabetes, physical activity participation and exercise capacity in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine if in schizophrenia patients the presence of diabetes is associated with lower physical activity participation and lower exercise capacity compared to patients with pre-diabetes and to patients without (pre-) diabetes.


METHODS
Schizophrenia patients without (pre-)diabetes (n = 86) were compared with pre-diabetic (n = 10) and diabetic patients (n = 10). Patients were assessed on physical activity participation using the Baecke physical activity questionnaire and on exercise capacity using a 6-min walk test (6MWT).


RESULTS
The three groups were similar in age, sex, mean antipsychotic medication dose, negative and depressive symptoms and smoking behavior. Distance achieved on the 6MWT, however, was approximately 15% shorter (P < 0.05) in patients withdiabetes than in patients without (pre-)diabetes (500.3 ± 76.9 m vs 590.7 ± 101.8 m). Patients with diabetes were also significantly less physically active (P < 0.05). No differences between diabetic and pre-diabetic patients were found. Pre-diabetic patients had a higher body mass index (BMI) than non-diabetic patients (30.0 ± 7.3 vs 24.3 ± 4.3, P < 0.05). An interaction effect with BMI for differences in Baecke (F = 29.9, P < 0.001) and 6MWT (F = 13.0, P < 0.001) scores was seen between diabetic and non-diabetic patients on univariate ANCOVA.


CONCLUSIONS
The additive burden of diabetes might place patients with schizophrenia at an even greater risk for functional limitations in daily life.
Campus Kortenberg, UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. davy.vancampfort@uc-kortenberg.be
Davy
D
Vancampfort
Marc
M
De Hert
Kim
K
Sweers
Amber
A
De Herdt
Johan
J
Detraux
Michel
M
Probst
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
diabetes; exercise; physical activity; physical fitness; schizophrenia