Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among schizophrenic patients hospitalized in the Canary Islands

Abstract

Introduction. Schizophrenic patients have a higher standardized mortality rate than that expected for the rest of the population. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is high among them, this increase coronary risk twofold to fourfold. This study aims to find out the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who have been admitted to an acute psychiatric ward and the sociodemographic, evolutive and psychopharmaceutical variables related to it. We also hope to establish the extent of coronary risk and its relationship with the metabolic syndrome.

Method. Cross-sectional observational study including 136 adult patients over 18 years of age. They were admitted in the year 2004 to the Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr Negrín, with the diagnosis of schizophrenia or SCID-I validated schizoaffective disorder. The metabolic syndrome and coronary risk were defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria.

Results. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the population studied is 36% (95% CI: 29.4 to 45.6). The metabolic syndrome is associated to an older age (p<0.05). Abdominal obesity is more prevalent among women (p<0.05). Coronary risk in the next 10 years is moderate in 52.3% of cases and high in 2.9%. Increase in risk is associated to antipsychotic intake and to suffering metabolic syndrome (p<0.05).

Conclusions. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among schizophrenic patients is high and it entails moderate to high coronary risk.