title: Screening for metabolic syndrome in older patients with severe mental illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate metabolic screening of elderly patients with severe mental illness (SMI) in terms of newly detected metabolic abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective evaluation of the metabolic screening outcome data of 100 consecutive elderly outpatients with SMI, all with universal access to health services. We gathered data on previous diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia and assessed metabolic syndrome parameters. The findings were compared with those from a group of 124 healthy elderly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our patients with SMI (mean age: 69 years; 52% bipolar disorder, 48% schizophrenia), the frequency of metabolic syndrome was not higher compared with the healthy elderly. However, in 51% of the SMI sample, metabolic screening detected at least one metabolic abnormality in a patient with no prior history for that specific parameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementing routine screening for metabolic syndrome in elderly patients with SMI may reveal substantial rates of previously undetected metabolic abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hugo W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Konz
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; EMGO, Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University/VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Meesters
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nadine P G
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Paans
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: van Grootheest
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; EMGO, Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University/VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hannie C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Comijs
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; EMGO, Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University/VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Max L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stek
authors.affiliation: GGZ inGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: A.Dols@ggzingeest.nl.
authors.forename: Annemiek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dols
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications
keywords: Metabolic syndrome; bipolar disorder; geriatric psychiatry; medication side effects; metabolic risk factors; schizophrenia; severe mental illness