title: Cardiovascular diseases among patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: The presence of comorbid physical illnesses especially, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in schizophrenia is a growing area of concern in recent years. In order to reduce disease burden, to improve quality of life and to provide holistic care, it is important to know about the relationship between schizophrenia and CVD. The objective of this review is to explore the extent of CVD problems, relevant risk factors and potential measures for early diagnosis and prevention of CVD among patients with schizophrenia. Worldwide studies show that patients with schizophrenia have a higher mortality and lower life expectancy than the general population. CVD is the leading cause of increased mortality in schizophrenia. Common CVD risk factors in schizophrenia include metabolic syndrome, sedentary behaviour, tobacco smoking, effects of antipsychotics, long chain omega-3 fatty acid deficiency and shared genetics between CVD and schizophrenia. The potential methods for early detection and prevention of CVD in schizophrenia are also discussed. Though the patients with schizophrenia form a high risk group for CVD, consensus guidelines for early detection and prevention of CVD in schizophrenia are lacking. Comorbidity of CVD in schizophrenia needs more serious attention by clinicians and researchers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Chanchal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wendy Diana
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Shoesmith
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, General Directorate of Health Affairs in Tabuk Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Mamun
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Faris
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Daw Khin Saw
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Naing
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Based Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mahadasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Phanindranath
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: turin.chowdhury@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Tanvir Chowdhury
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Turin
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Early detection; Prevention; Risk factors; Schizophrenia