The Effect of Acute Psychotic Period on Physiological Values Measured in Blood in Male Patients With Schizophrenia

There is increasing evidence that plasma osmolarity is an independent prognostic factor associated with mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Whole blood viscosity (WBV) is also associated with established cardiometabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the acute phase of schizophrenia on physiological parameters, including WBV and plasma osmolarity, in male patients with schizophrenia.

A total of 121 male patients with schizophrenia were included in this study. Routine blood test results were obtained from hospital records, and the laboratory values required for the calculation of viscosity and osmolarity were recorded. Laboratory data from the patients' most recent acute exacerbation were retrieved from hospital records and used as the acute-phase data.

There was no statistically significant difference in serum osmolarity between the acute and remission phases (p = 0.360). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glucose levels were significantly higher during the remission phase, whereas sodium levels were significantly higher during the acute phase. No significant differences were observed in WBV values between the acute and remission phases (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in WBV-related parameters, including hematocrit (HCT) and total protein, between the two phases. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher during the remission phase.

Although differences were observed in osmolarity-related parameters and viscosity-associated metabolic variables between the acute and remission phases in male patients with schizophrenia, no statistically significant differences were found in serum osmolarity or WBV between the two phases.