title: Long-Term Treatment with Olanzapine in Hospital Conditions: Prevalence and Predictors of the Metabolic Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of metabolic abnormalities is greatly increased in schizophrenic patients started on an atypical antipsychotic medication. Patients with psychiatric disorders exceed mortality ranges resulting from, among others, increased risk of cardiovascular events. Other factors contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome include prolonged duration of illness, increasing age, female sex and lifestyle factors. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study was taken up to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in schizophrenic patients receiving olanzapine monotherapy for at least six months and to determine the most important risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome presence in these patients. METHODS A total of 93 long term hospitalized schizophrenic patients (71 men, 22 women), had a screening of the following: case-history data, psychiatric scales, anthropometric measures, blood (fasting glucose, lipid status, C-reactive protein--CRP) and urine samples (microalbuminuria).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of MetS according to International Diabetes Federation criteria in our study was 34.4%. The multivariate analysis distinguished the following significant predictors of MetS presence (in order of appearance): data about diabetes mellitus in family history (p = 0.002), body mass index > 25 kg/m2 (p = 0.002), hyperlipidemia in family history (p = 0.008), and elevated CRP value (p = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rate of MetS in patients treated with olanzapine in this study exceeds MetS prevalence in general population. Among observed parameters, our study pointed to several "high risk" predictors associated with MetS presence. Regular monitoring of cardiometabolic risk factors is highly recommended. Positive heredity distress mentioned above may direct a psychiatrist to prescribe some other drug than olanzapine in the long term treatment of schizophrenia.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ravanić
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milovanović
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Folić
authors.forename: Albina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanojević
authors.forename: Milutin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nenadović
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine