Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with Schizophrenia, in a tertiary care armed forces setup. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION: Department of Psychiatry, PNS SHIFA, Karachi from October 2009 to April 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty six patients with Schizophrenia reporting for management in PNS SHIFA were enrolled as subjects. Demographic variables and other confounding variables were recorded in a structured Performa, Blood Pressure (BP) and Waist Circumference (WC) were measured while Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), Triglycerides (TAG) and HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were estimated by routine methods in laboratory with quality assurance. RESULTS: More than half i.e.30 (53.6%) of subjects had Metabolic Syndrome (MS) as per ATP IIIA criteria. Further 25% (n=14) of subjects were positive for two components of MS. Low HDL-C levels were most prevalent component followed by hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridemia and increased WC while hypertension was least common component. CONCLUSION: Metabolic Syndrome and its various components are frequently co morbidity in patients with Schizophrenia.