Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in schizophrenic patients <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

AIMS: To identify the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in inpatients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included male patients with schizophrenia, aged 40 years or older, taking antipsychotics for at least two years, in the Hospital Colonia Itapuã, located in Viamão, RS, Brazil. We analyzed anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference), biochemical tests (glucose, HDL-C, triglycerides), blood pressure and use of antipsychotic medication. RESULTS: At all, 56 patients were evaluated. We found a prevalence of 30.4% of metabolic syndrome in this population. Of the components of the syndrome, hypertension (60.7%) and high abdominal circumference (50%) were outstanding. Patients with excess body weight were 5.63 (95% CI 1.42-22.3) times more likely to develop the syndrome than normal weight patients. The patients using second-generation antipsychotics were 2.51 (95% CI 1.22-5.17) times more likely to develop the syndrome than the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome found in these schizophrenic patients was slightly higher than the prevalence in the general population as estimated by the International Diabetes Federation. Excess weight and antipsychotic drugs appear to be associated with the development of the syndrome and its components.