Microvascular dysfunction in schizophrenia: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychiatry
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Schizophrenia is associated with premature cardiovascular disease.
• Endothelial dysfunction predicts cardiovascular events.
• The effect of schizophrenia on endothelial function is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that schizophrenia patients exhibit impaired endothelial function.
• To investigate microvascular and conduit vessel endothelial function in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• 102 subjects (51 schizophrenia, 51 controls) were assessed.
• Matched for age, sex, and smoking status.
• Endothelial function measured via hyperemic velocity time integral (VTI), pulse arterial tonometry (PAT), and flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Main Results:

• Schizophrenia subjects had significantly lower VTI (P<0.001).
• FMD and PAT did not differ between groups (P=0.933, P=0.862).
• Multivariable analysis identified schizophrenia as a predictor of reduced VTI, independent of other factors.

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia diagnosis is associated with impaired microvascular function (lower VTI).
• This impairment is observed irrespective of other clinical characteristics.
• Reduced VTI may indicate early cardiovascular risk in schizophrenia.