Cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Patients with schizophrenia die on average 25 years earlier than the general population, and this gap appears to be increasing. Most of the excess mortality is due to premature cardiovascular deaths rather than suicide. Many psychotropic agents are orexigenic and can increase weight and promote dyslipidaemia. Traditional cardiac risk factors are undertreated among patients with schizophrenia, and they are less likely to receive cardiac revascularisation than those without a mental illness. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication effective for treatment of refractory schizophrenia, but is associated with the risk of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. Established protocols in Australia screen for myocarditis for patients who are initiating clozapine therapy and for long term monitoring for cardiomyopathy with echocardiography. Coordinated care between tertiary providers, general practitioners and primary health care professionals should monitor the physical health of people with psychosis or schizophrenia at least annually and treatment should be offered accordingly.

Cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia

“…We thank Skalicky for his interest in our article 1 . We agree that a rehabilitation approach to complement the model of care may be very helpful.…”

Schizophrenia patients with a metabolically abnormal obese phenotype have milder negative symptoms

“…Existing studies have shown that the life expectancy in patients with schizophrenia is 10 to 20 years shorter than that in people without schizophrenia [4]. One of the leading causes of premature death in patients with schizophrenia is cardiovascular disease [5][6][7]. Among the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, obesity is prominent and very common [8,9].…”

The differences of gut microbiota on schizophrenia with obesity and the potential effects of enterotype on metabolic pathways: cross-sectional study

“…[1,2] As the results of premature cardiovascular disease, suicide, and cancer, the schizophrenia patients have a significantly shorter life span than their peers nearly 25 years. [3,4] Sudden cardiac deaths are more likely to occur in patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatrists therefore need actively concern on metabolic issues, such as obesity which could significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, in patients of schizophrenia.…”