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Coronary artery calcium in patients with schizophrenia

Trine Trab1,2,3, Rubina Attar4, Svend Eggert Jensen4,5

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. t.trab@rn.dk.

BMC Psychiatry
|August 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Patients with schizophrenia showed coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores similar to the general population. Factors like male sex, age, smoking, and diabetes influenced CAC, suggesting CAC alone may not fully assess coronary heart disease risk in this group.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) significantly increases mortality in schizophrenia patients.
  • Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is a known indicator of CHD.
  • This study investigates CAC scores in schizophrenia patients compared to general population norms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare CAC scores in patients with schizophrenia to age- and gender-matched general population norms.
  • To identify factors (age, sex, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking) associated with CAC presence and extent in schizophrenia patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 163 schizophrenia patients.
  • Cardiac computed tomography was used to measure CAC scores.
  • Scores were compared to 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of general population norms.
  • Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • Most patients (77.9%) had CAC scores at or below the 50th percentile.
  • Male sex, age, and smoking were associated with the presence of CAC.
  • Age and diabetes were associated with the extent of CAC.

Conclusions:

  • CAC scores in schizophrenia patients align with general population percentiles.
  • Risk factors for CAC in schizophrenia patients are similar to the general population.
  • CAC scoring alone may be insufficient for comprehensive CHD risk assessment in schizophrenia; further research into other subclinical CHD markers is recommended.
Abstract

Keywords:
Coronary artery diseaseSchizophreniaVascular Calcification

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