No abstract

Individuals with bipolar disorder experience twice the cardiovascular mortality expected from general population estimates. The metabolic syndrome is more common in those with bipolar disorder, with a prevalence ratio of 1.6, and includes many traditional cardiovascular risk factors, which may explain much of the elevated risk. Manic symptom burden also predicts cardiovascular mortality, begging questions regarding other explanations for elevated cardiovascular risk. Ultimately, the mechanisms that lead to elevated cardiovascular risk in bipolar disorder are complex and potentially involve behavior, treatment, access to quality health care, and underlying pathophysiology. Much remains unknown about the etiology of any mechanisms inherent to illness or, for that matter, treatment effects. Addressing access and health behaviors can mitigate risk for individuals with bipolar disorder. Recent evidence indicates that psychiatrists are becoming aware of the vascular risk associated with bipolar disorder, although further education will improve monitoring and subsequent outcomes.

Objectives Despite declining numbers of perinatally exposed infants, an increase in perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections from 2011 to 2013 prompted this study to identify missed perinatal HIV prevention opportunities. Methods Deidentified records of children born from 2007 through 2014, exposed to HIV perinatally, and reported to the Florida Department of Health were obtained. Crude relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with perinatal transmission, nondiagnosis of maternal HIV infection, and nonreceipt of antiretroviral medication were calculated. Results Of the 4337 known singleton births exposed to maternal HIV infection, 70 (1.6%) were perinatally infected. Among perinatal transmission cases, more than one-third of mothers used illegal drugs or acquired a sexually transmitted infection during pregnancy. Perinatal transmission was most strongly associated with maternal HIV diagnosis during labor and delivery (RR 5.66; 95% CI 2.31–13.91) or after birth (RR 26.50; 95% CI 15.44–45.49) compared with antenatally or prenatally. Among the 29 women whose infection was not known before pregnancy and whose child was perinatally infected, 18 were not diagnosed during pregnancy; 12 had evidence of an acute HIV infection, and 6 had no prenatal care. Conclusions Late diagnosis of maternal HIV infection appeared to be primarily the result of acute maternal infections and inadequate prenatal care. In Florida, effective programs to improve utilization of prenatal care and detection and primary prevention of prenatal acute infection are needed.

Objective To identify determinants of new use of the first-line SGAs associated with weight gain. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Outpatient and inpatient psychiatry services at a tertiary, academic medical center. Patients Sample of 340 consecutive patients over two time periods with major depression with psychotic features, bipolar I, bipolar II, bipolar not otherwise specified, and schizoaffective disorder. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with new use of olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Several clinical factors were individually associated with initiation of these SGAs: mania (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2–10.8), psychosis (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5–6.9), and inpatient treatment (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.8–7.9). Prevalent use of lithium (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9) and being married (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8) were inversely associated. Mania, psychosis, married status, and lithium use remained independently associated on multivariate analysis. Factors related to metabolic or vascular risk were not associated with SGA initiation. Conclusions Psychiatric clinicians weigh clinical features related to mental status and acuity heavily in determining whether to initiate SGAs. However, factors related to vascular risk were not associated. Future observational studies should consider current clinical status as an important factor in determining propensity to receive antipsychotics or other acute treatments for bipolar disorder.