Quality of Life and C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The connection between chronic inflammation and the quality of life (QOL) in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia lacks clarity. This study aimed to achieve 2 primary objectives: (1) assess the QOL among outpatients with schizophrenia and (2) explore the potential correlation between reduced QOL and heightened levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with schizophrenia.

The research included 129 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia who were receiving care at the psychiatry department of the University Hospital Mohamed VI in Marrakech, Morocco. Disease severity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), while the QOL was measured using the Moroccan Arabic version of The Schizophrenia Quality of Life questionnaire. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on their CRP levels: normal CRP (≤5.0 mg/L) and high CRP (>5.0 mg/L). A comparative analysis of sociodemographic, clinical, biological, and quality of life factors was conducted between the 2 groups (normal CRP and high CRP).

The group with elevated CRP levels exhibited higher scores in various PANSS categories, including PANSS total score (P ≤ .01), PANSS positive score (P ≤ .01), PANSS negative score (P ≤ .01), and PANSS general score (P ≤ .01). After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables, individuals with elevated CRP levels demonstrated lower QOL compared to those with normal CRP levels (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.46-0.68). Significant associations were noted between male gender (OR = 0.047, 95% CI = 0.01-0.26), earlier onset of the condition (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.33-0.82), current tobacco smoking (OR = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.00-0.08), and heightened CRP levels.

Our study suggests that higher CRP is associated with lower QOL levels in schizophrenia.