Cardiometabolic Risks in Schizophrenia and Directions for Intervention, 1: Magnitude and Moderators of the Problem

Patients with schizophrenia have increased prevalence rates for many cardiac risk factors. As an example, the metabolic syndrome is common in schizophrenia, with elevated rates for the syndrome and its components evident in first-episode schizophrenia patients, itself. These rates are further elevated in multiepisode patients. Weight gain is a clinical marker of cardiometabolic risk. Antipsychotic drug treatment may drive at least part of the increased cardiometabolic risk; the effects are externally evident in the form of weight gain, with different drugs having different effects on weight and metabolic parameters. Finally, sedentariness and smoking are 2 common behaviors that increase cardiometabolic risks in schizophrenia. It is important for psychiatrists who treat schizophrenia to evaluate the cardiometabolic risks in their patients so that appropriate lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions can be planned.