Metabolic disease and cardiovascular risk in people treated with antipsychotics in the community
Paul Mackin1, David Bishop, Helen Watkinson
1School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Leazes Wing (Psychiatry), Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK. paul.mackin@ncl.ac.uk
Background:
Prevalence of physical comorbidity in severe mental illness is a significant public health concern, but comparative data in people with diagnoses other than schizophrenia are sparse.
Aims:
To investigate the prevalence of metabolic disease and cardiovascular risk in people with severe mental illness treated with antipsychotics in the community.
Methods:
Case-control study of 90 people treated with antipsychotics in the community and 92 age- and gender-matched controls. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and 10-year cardiovascular risk were calculated.
Results:
People on antipsychotics had a significantly worse metabolic profile than controls (F=6.583, d.f.=15,161, P<0.0001). Moreover, metabolic syndrome was more prevalent (OR=3.68, 95% CI 1.71-7.93, P=0.001), as was cardiovascular risk across a number of outcomes. These results are consistent across diagnostic groups.
Conclusions:
People with severe mental illness treated with antipsychotics have excess metabolic dysfunction and heightened risk for cardiovascular disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
01:28Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents