Clinical Correlates of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia / 대한정신약물학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTSIVE: This study investigated the frequency of metabolic syndrome, associated factors and its risk for cardiovascular morbidity in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, nineteen-six patients with schizophrenia defined by DSM-IV criteria were included. All subjects were assessed for the presence of metabolic syndrome by means of the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. In addition, we compared clinical characteristics, laboratory variables and risk for cardiovascular morbidity between patients with and without metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Of patients, 43% had metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was associated with illness chronicity and current status of antipsychotic agents use, total duration of atypical agents used, but not with daily chlorpromazine equivalent dose. Compared with the patients without metabolic syndrome, patients with metabolic syndrome had higher risk for cardiovascular morbidity. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that metabolic syndrome is common among patients with chronic schizophrenia. Clinicians should be cautious to aware the increased risk for the metabolic syndrome and intervene actively to prevent and treat metabolic morbidity among chronic patients with schizophrenia.