The Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Patients with Schizophrenia

In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of sarcopenia in patients with schizophrenia and the risk factors that may be associated with sarcopenia.

We recruited 72 schizophrenia patients who had registered in the schizophrenia specialized unit of Çukurova University. The socio-demographic variable form was filled. Each patient underwent physical mass, strength, and performance tests to confirm the diagnosis of sarcopenia (SP), which was made according to the criteria of European Consensus.

Mean age of the patients was 39.50 (19-65) years for the possible sarcopenia group and 37.00 (21-65) years for without SP group. Possible sarcopenia was 36.1% (n = 26), and SP and severe SP were 0.0% in schizophrenia patients. Total body water (TBW) (37.60 vs. 43.90) and bone mineral density (2.70 vs. 3.10) values were significantly lower in the possible SP group compared to the non-sarcopenia group (P = .011 and P = .025, respectively). However, it was found that muscle mass (kg) (51.05 vs. 58.65) and muscle strength (kg/kg) (20.70 vs. 33.15) were significantly lower in the possible SP group compared to the non-sarcopenia group (P = .042 and P = .001, respectively). Compared to the non-sarcopenia group, patient exercising was less in the possible SP group (4 vs. 9, P = .001), while walking speeds (m/s) were statistically faster in the possible SP group (6.74 vs. 5.98, P = .010).

This is the first study that investigated SP in schizophrenia patients. Sarcopenia was found more frequently in schizophrenia patients than in the general population.