THE MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS IN BIPOLAR DISORDER PATIENTS IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Cardiology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).
• Existing evidence highlights a strong association between CVD risk factors and BD.
• Management of CVD risk factors within primary healthcare settings for BD patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and appraise different care approaches for managing CVD risk factors in bipolar disorder patients within primary care.
• To identify effective strategies for integrating CVD risk management into routine primary care for BD patients.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of articles from PubMed, Science Direct, and cited references.
• Keywords included "bipolar disorder," "cardiovascular disease," "metabolic syndrome," "screening," "primary care," and "integrated care model."
• Studies published between January 2016 and December 2019 were included; quality was assessed using NHLBI tools.

Main Results:

• A significant number of studies (115 out of 128 initial articles) were excluded based on criteria, leaving five relevant studies for final analysis.
• CVD risk factors in patients with BD and other severe mental illnesses (SMI) are frequently underdetected.
• Primary healthcare providers play a crucial role in identifying and managing these risks.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for enhanced detection and management of CVD risk factors in bipolar disorder patients within primary care.
• Integrated or collaborative care models show promise for addressing these co-occurring conditions.
• Primary care providers require clear strategies to effectively screen and manage cardiovascular risks in this population.