Changes in Body Fat and Related Biochemical Parameters Associated With Atypical Antipsychotic Drug Treatment in Schizophrenia Patients With or Without Metabolic Syndrome (original) (raw)

Long-term health considerations in schizophrenia: Metabolic effects and the role of abdominal adiposity

European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2006

Patients with schizophrenia have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared with the general population, primarily due to cardiovascular disease. Thus there is an increasing need for clinicians in the psychiatric field to recognise and address cardiovascular risk factors such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, high blood pressure and elevated fasting blood glucose levels that contribute to this long-term health burden. The combination of three or more of these risk factors leads to a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, further predisposing individuals to cardiovascular disease. A cluster of risk factors, such as in the metabolic syndrome, is being increasingly seen in patients with schizophrenia. Abdominal obesity is a key contributor to overall cardiovascular risk and is a particularly important consideration in schizophrenia as some atypical antipsychotics are associated with druginduced weight gain. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet undoubtedly contribute further. Psychiatrists need to be aware of metabolic risk when initiating treatment in patients with schizophrenia and should take steps to identify and monitor patients. A first step is to establish a risk profile for the patient based on medical, lifestyle and genetic factors, and measurement of waist circumference is a good indicator of overall cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Strategies recommended to reduce risk include promoting healthy lifestyle/behavioural habits and close monitoring of weight, glucose, and lipid profiles both before and during treatment. Established risk factors should also be considered when selecting the most appropriate antipsychotic medication for an individual patient, based on differences in the potential effect of individual medications to induce weight gain, risk of diabetes or worsening lipid profile.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia patients treated with antipsychotic medications

Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine, 2020

Background: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Mets) in schizophrenic patients in a 6-month period of treatment with antipsychotic medications. Methods: In this study, 60 volunteer schizophrenic patients were included. At the onset and 6 months after treatment with antipsychotic medications, fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), weight, waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure were determined. We defined Mets according to ATPIII criteria. Results: After a 6-month treatment with antipsychotic drugs, the mean WC, serum TG, HDL, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased but the changes of WC and HDL were statistically significant (p<0.05). We found that the percentage of patients with high WC, low HDL levels, and Mets increased after treatment which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is recommended that nutritional and lifestyle changes intervention should be implanted for schizophrenic patients undergoing treatment.

Low prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in never-treated chronic schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Research, 2010

Introduction: Antipsychotic medication and lifestyle factors are implicated in the high rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia. While the two Consensus Statements made in 2004 concluded they were unclear whether psychiatric disorders per se accounted for increased prevalence of metabolic disorders several later studies have presented the case for an association between schizophrenia and metabolic disorders, especially impaired glucose metabolism and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, independent of antipsychotic drug treatment. Methods: This is a comparative study of 51 patients with chronic schizophrenia who never received antipsychotic drug treatment and 51 healthy controls. Physical and laboratory assessments were made to measure body-mass index and diagnose metabolic syndrome using the International Diabetes Federation (2006) criteria. Results: The study observed a significantly lower mean body-mass index in patients (19.4) than controls (22.7) and very low and comparable rates of metabolic syndrome (3.9% in patients, 7.8% in controls). Discussion: Economic affordability and lifestyles modified by living conditions were discussed as factors underlying the high rates of underweight in the patient population and low rates of metabolic disorders in all the study subjects. The study concluded that schizophrenia in the absence of antipsychotic drug treatment is not a factor contributing to high prevalence of metabolic abnormalities. Lifestyle factors and the social and economic circumstances that drive them should be considered for better understanding and management of excess weight gain and metabolic abnormalities in people with schizophrenia.

Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia Treated with Antipsychotic Medication

Drug Safety, 2006

The presence of the metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are limited data on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in European patients suffering from schizophrenia. Methods: All consecutive patients with schizophrenia at our university psychiatric hospital and affiliate services were entered in an extensive prospective metabolic study including an oral glucose tolerance test. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was assessed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria (NCEP, Adult Treatment Protocol, ATP-III), adapted ATP-III criteria using a fasting glucose threshold of 100 mg/dl (AHA) and on the recently proposed criteria from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Results: The analysis of 430 patients showed a prevalence of the metabolic syndrome of 28.4% (ATP-III), 32.3% (ATP-III A) and 36% (IDF), respectively. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in our sample of patients with schizophrenia is at least twice as high compared to an age-adjusted community sample in Belgium. Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among treated patients with schizophrenia. It represents an important risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Assessment of the presence and monitoring of the associated risks of the metabolic syndrome should be part of the clinical management of patients treated with antipsychotics. D

Increased visceral fat distribution in drug-naive and drug-free patients with schizophrenia

International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2002

To investigate visceral fat distribution in patients with schizophrenia. Cross sectional study using CT scanning in patients with drug-naive and drug-free schizophrenia. Fifteen (13 men and two women) subjects with schizophrenia (mean age 33.7 y; mean body mass index (BMI)=26.7 kg/m(2)), and 15 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age 30.5 y; mean BMI=22.8 kg/(2)). Various fatness and fat distribution parameters (by CT scanning and anthropometry) and 16:00 h plasma cortisol. In comparison to controls, patients with schizophrenia had central obesity and had significantly higher levels of plasma cortisol. Furthermore, previous neuroleptic exposure did not appear to influence these findings as both drug-naive and drug-free patients had equally high levels of visceral fat deposition. Central obesity is a well recognized risk factor in developing certain general medical conditions. This study shows that patients with schizophrenia have increased intra-abdominal fat which may provide one e...

Metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia: Differences between antipsychotic-naïve and treated patients

Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 2013

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in general population and in patients with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia. This paper reviews studies on MetS in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, and assesses the contribution of antipsychotics toward the development of MetS. Databases of Medline (PubMed), PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched for MetS, psychotic disorders, and antipsychotic drugs from inception till present. Prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia was found to be ranging from 3.3% to 68.0%. Prevalence in antipsychotic-naïve and antipsychotic-treated patients ranged between 3.3-26.0% and 32.0-68.0% respectively, and was higher in younger patients, female gender and Hispanics, and lower in African-Americans and Orientals. Prevalence of metabolic abnormalities was higher in patients receiving second generation antipsychotics (SGAs), especially with clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone, as compared to first generation antipsychotics (FGAs). Antipsychotic-induced changes on metabolic indices became evident after 2 weeks and reached maximum at 3 months of treatment. There is a need to sensitize the mental health professionals at all levels about the need of screening and monitoring for MetS in patients receiving antipsychotics.

[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Spanish patients with schizophrenia and overweight. The CRESSOB Study]

PubMed, 2014

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) (visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension), has become one of the major public-health challenges worldwide. Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to suffer from MS than the general population. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of MS in Spanish patients with schizophrenia and overweight and to compare the best method to calculate the MS prevalence in this population. A secondary aim of the CRESSOB study was to determine whether the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated or not with clinical remission of schizophrenia. Methods: The Control of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Schizophrenia and Overweight (CRESSOB) study is a 12-month, prospective, naturalistic study including 110 community mental health clinics selected at random. Each site enrolled four consecutive patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to DSM-IV TR criteria, and who were overweight (Body Mass Index (BMI) >25 kg/m2). To assess the prevalence of MS we analyzed the baseline results of the CRESSOB study. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) definitions were used to establish the presence of MS. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to determine the percentage of patients in remission. Psychosocial functioning was measured by the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Results: A total of 391 patients were enrolled in the study (mean age 40.5 years, 63.8% men). 75.9% of the patients did not meet criteria for remission, using the selected PANSS items. The mean GAF score was 52.7 (Standard Deviation (SD) 15.4). Overall, 59.0% of males and 58.3% of females fulfilled the NCEP-ATP III criteria, 71.1% of males and 65.8% of females fulfilled the IDF criteria and 70.1% of males and 65.1% of females fulfilled the AHA/ NHLBI criteria. The patients who fulfilled remission criteria were younger, had a lower BMI, and a higher GAF score. Conclusions: MS is highly prevalent in Spanish patients with schizophrenia who are overweight. Given that metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, these patients should receive appropriate clinical monitoring for this syndrome.

Metabolic issues in patients affected by schizophrenia: clinical characteristics and medical management

Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2015

Patients affected by psychotic disorders are more likely to develop high rates of co-morbidities, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemias, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, myocardial infarction, stroke etc., in the long-term. These morbidities have a significant impact on the life-expectancy of these patients. Patients with chronic psychoses show a 2-3-fold increased risk of death mostly from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Although there may be an independent link, between schizophrenia and metabolic conditions the cardio-metabolic risk is mostly related to an unhealthy lifestyle and the usage of antipsychotic agents (especially Second Generation Antipsychotics or atypical) even when these remain effective treatments in the management of major psychoses. Recently, many international organizations have developed screening and monitoring guidelines for the control of modifiable risk factors in order to reduce the rate of co-morbidity and mortality among patients affected by schizophrenia. This paper is a review of current knowledge about the metabolic issues of patients affected by schizophrenia and describes clinical characteristics and medical management strategies for such conditions.