Reducing cardiovascular risk factors in non-selected outpatients with schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of premature death in individuals with schizophrenia.
• Effective short-term interventions for reducing CVD risk factors exist, but their long-term applicability in routine care is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reduce cardiovascular risk factors in outpatients with schizophrenia using established methods.
• To identify baseline characteristics associated with positive outcomes from health interventions.

Main Methods:

• A 1-year follow-up study involving all outpatients treated for schizophrenia at two Danish hospitals.
• Patients were offered individual and group health interventions.
• Measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Main Results:

• Small, significant increases in BMI and waist circumference were observed.
• Minor, non-significant improvements were noted in other cardiovascular risk factors.
• Patients with higher baseline BMI and longer duration of treated illness (>2 years) showed better intervention outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Improving physical health in non-selected schizophrenia outpatients within routine care is difficult.
• Patient motivation and monitoring of metabolic risk measures presented significant challenges.
• Future research should prioritize simple health promotion strategies integrable into routine care.