Clinical Patterns of Dyslipidemia in Patients With Initial-Treatment and Drug-Naïve Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a common, chronic, severe mental disorder that is often accompanied by dyslipidemia and linked to decreased life expectancy. The prevalence of dyslipidemia among initial-treatment and drug-naïve (ITDN) patients with SCZ and the correlates influencing its occurrence and severity were determined in this study.

Demographic and clinical data including blood pressure, blood cell count, renal function, lipid profile, fasting glucose level, and thyroid function were collected from the 668 patients with ITDN SCZ included in this study. Psychopathology and illness severity were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Scale - Severity of Illness, respectively.

The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 33.53% (224/668) and the influencing factors included higher education attainment (B = 0.43, p = 0.018, odds ratio [OR] = 1.54) and elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) (B = 0.04, p < 0.001, OR = 1.04), which were predictive factors. Conversely, having a spouse (B = -0.40, p = 0.026, OR = 0.67), higher red blood cell counts (B = -0.77, p < 0.001, OR = 0.47), and higher free tetraiodothyronine (FT₄) levels (B = -0.06, p = 0.022, OR = 0.94) were protective factors. Specifically, elevated SBP (B = 0.01, t = 2.71, p = 0.007, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.00-0.01) predicted dyslipidemia severity, whereas higher FT₄ levels (B = -0.02, t = -2.45, p = 0.015, 95% CI = -0.04-0.00) had a protective effect.

Our study provides valuable insights into the clinical characteristics of dyslipidemia in ITDN SCZ patients. The identified factors influencing dyslipidemia occurrence and severity could serve as potential bioindicators for its prevention and intervention in clinical settings.