Associations between metabolic and aerobic fitness parameters in patients with schizophrenia

The primary aim was to determine whether the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) limits aerobic fitness in patients with schizophrenia. A secondary aim was to investigate the associations between aerobic fitness and MetS parameters. Aerobic fitness (expressed as predicted maximal oxygen uptake) was assessed using the Astrand-Rhyming test. Those with MetS (n = 19) were similar in age, sex, antipsychotic medication use, symptoms, and smoking behavior than those without (n = 31). Estimated maximal oxygen uptake was 21.4% lower (p = 0.001) in patients with MetS than in patients without MetS (29.5 ± 7.4 ml of O2/min/kg vs. 37.5 ± 8.2 ml of O2/min/kg, respectively). The estimated maximal oxygen uptake of the entire sample was correlated with waist circumference, the level of high-density lipoproteins, and fasting glucose. The current study demonstrates that the additive burden of MetS might place people with schizophrenia at increased risk for functional limitations in daily life activities.