Cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia.
Patients with schizophrenia die on average 25 years earlier than the general population, and this gap appears to be increasing. Most of the excess mortality is due to premature cardiovascular deaths rather than suicide. Many psychotropic agents are orexigenic and can increase weight and promote dyslipidaemia. Traditional cardiac risk factors are undertreated among patients with schizophrenia, and they are less likely to receive cardiac revascularisation than those without a mental illness. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication effective for treatment of refractory schizophrenia, but is associated with the risk of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. Established protocols in Australia screen for myocarditis for patients who are initiating clozapine therapy and for long term monitoring for cardiomyopathy with echocardiography. Coordinated care between tertiary providers, general practitioners and primary health care professionals should monitor the physical health of people with psychosis or schizophrenia at least annually and treatment should be offered accordingly.
Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW leonard.kritharides@sydney.edu.au.
Leonard
L
Kritharides
Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Vincent
V
Chow
Collaborative Centre for Cardiometabolic Health in Psychosis, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW.
Tim Jr
TJ
Lambert
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000139:chemically induced; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine