Associations Between Metabolic and Aerobic Fitness Parameters in Patients With Schizophrenia

Abstract

The primary aim was to determine whether the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) limits aerobic fitness in patients with schizophrenia. A secondary aim was to investigate the associations between aerobic fitness and MetS parameters. Aerobic fitness (expressed as predicted maximal oxygen uptake) was assessed using the Astrand-Rhyming test. Those with MetS (n = 19) were similar in age, sex, antipsychotic medication use, symptoms, and smoking behavior than those without (n = 31). Estimated maximal oxygen uptake was 21.4% lower (p = 0.001) in patients with MetS than in patients without MetS (29.5 ± 7.4 ml of O2/min/kg vs. 37.5 ± 8.2 ml of O2/min/kg, respectively). The estimated maximal oxygen uptake of the entire sample was correlated with waist circumference, the level of high-density lipoproteins, and fasting glucose. The current study demonstrates that the additive burden of MetS might place people with schizophrenia at increased risk for functional limitations in daily life activities.

Physical activity and anomalous bodily experiences in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

“…In our study, only two patients refused to participate in the Astrand-Rhyming test for aerobic fitness, whereas the remaining missing data was owing to investigation in the patient's own home or patients lost to follow-up. Our study, therefore, supports previous findings of the Astrand-Rhyming test as a reliable measure of aerobic fitness in a sample of patients with schizophrenia (44). Furthermore, the dropout rate was fairly low (22.2%).…”

“…It is, however, important to note that significantly more patients were smokers, and both sedentary behaviour and smoking contribute to a poor aerobic fitness (38). Low aerobic fitness is a significant risk factor for metabolic syndrome and CVD (39)(40)(41), and has, therefore, been given more attention in recent years in patients with schizophrenia (42)(43)(44). In a recent study, low aerobic fitness was significantly correlated with metabolic syndrome and metabolic abnormalities in patients with FES (45).…”

Protocol for CHANGE: a randomized clinical trial assessing lifestyle coaching plus care coordination versus care coordination alone versus treatment as usual to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease in adults with schizophrenia and abdominal obesity

“…The combination of pronounced sedentary behaviour and a diet rich in sugar and fat, highly contributes to the reported proportion of obesity of 42% to 60% among patients with schizophrenia [ 13 ]. A significant association between low aerobic fitness and metabolic syndrome has been found in patients with schizophrenia [ 14 ]. Furthermore, patients with schizophrenia have more than five times the odds of being smoker, and smoking cessation is lower than compared to the general population [ 15 ].…”

Consensus statement on the role of Accredited Exercise Physiologists within the treatment of mental disorders: a guide for mental health professionals

“…8 Compared with the general population, people living with mental illness display reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, are more sedentary and less physically active. 9,10 Furthermore, there is an increasing body of evidence regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of exercise interventions for improving mental health outcomes of people experiencing mental illness. [11][12][13][14][15] Interventions aimed at increasing physical activity and improving cardiorespiratory fitness are the cornerstone in preventing and treating CVD and associated mortality, and therefore should be included as part of the multidisciplinary treatment of mental illness, including for those with serious mental illnesses.…”