title: Detection of subclinical atherosclerosis and diastolic dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, which is associated with early mortality compared with the nonschizophrenic population. Early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases in asymptomatic periods in patients with schizophrenia would enhance their quality of life and reduce mortality. Echocardiography, carotid ultrasonography, and ankle brachial index (ABI) measurement are known to be beneficial methods of detecting subclinical cardiovascular diseases and of risk stratification. The present study investigated carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and ABI and echocardiographic parameters measured via conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography in patients with schizophrenia in comparison with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present case-control study included 116 patients with schizophrenia and 88 healthy patients. Participants with any current comorbid psychiatric disorder, current or lifetime neurological and medical problems, current coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism or who were using antihypertensives, antidiabetic agents, or antiobesity drugs were excluded. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound images were used to measure CIMT. Conventional and tissue Doppler measurements were performed according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low ABI, mitral ratio of the early (E) to late (A) ventricular filling velocities, septal E', septal S', lateral E', lateral S', septal E'/septal A', lateral E'/lateral A', and high septal A', mitral E/septal E', mitral E/lateral E', and CIMT values were observed in the schizophrenia group compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doppler parameters supported the hypothesis that patients with schizophrenia are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Namık Kemal University, School of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unsal
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.forename: Hande Oktay
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Tureli
authors.forename: Seref
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alpsoy
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yeşilyurt
authors.forename: Mehtap
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Birol
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Topcu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurt
keywords: ankle brachial index; carotid intima media thickness; schizophrenia; tissue Doppler echocardiography