Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with schizophrenia in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Globally, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is higher among patients with schizophrenia than the general population, and this leads to higher morbidity and mortality in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the MetS prevalence among patients with schizophrenia in Ethiopia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of 200 patients with schizophrenia recruited from Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Lipid profile and blood glucose levels were measured using Roche Cobas 6000 clinical chemistry analyzer. The prevalence of MetS was assessed based on National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Patients’ demographic information, clinical and laboratory data, lifestyle habits, particularly smoking and Khat chewing, were evaluated vis-à-vis MetS. Results The overall prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia was 21.5% (17.1% male, 29.6% female) where Low HDL-cholesterol value was the most common metabolic disorders components in both males and females subgroups. In the multivariate analysis, the positive and negative symptoms score (PANSS, AOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.001–1.054) was associated factors with MetS. Conclusion In Ethiopia, patients with schizophrenia were found to have higher prevalence of MetS than the general population. Physicians/health care providers should routinely screen patients with schizophrenia for MetS and initiate timely management of those who develop the syndrome to reduce the health cost from caring for NCDs, improve the patients’ quality of life, and prevent premature mortality.

Mortality in Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders: Recent Advances in Understanding and Management

“…A previous meta-analysis found that the overall rate of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia was 32.5%, with only minor differences across countries and treatment settings, and no differences between genders [ 60 ]. Similar findings were recently reported on Chinese patients with schizophrenia [ 61 ], as well as on patients with schizophrenia in developing countries [ 62 ], although data are limited at present. Contributing factors to obesity are the side effects of antipsychotic medication, such as weight gain, metabolic abnormalities and sedation.…”

Sudden Cardiac Death in Schizophrenia During Hospitalization: An Autopsy-Based Study

“…MetS is defined by combination of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and hyperglycemia (24). MetS was long considered to be a comorbid outcome of schizophrenia after years of medication even in young patients, associating with the increasing risk for SCD and CVD mortality among schizophrenia (25,26). Clinical studies suggested that the incidence of hepatic steatosis may serve as a predictor of CVD both in the general population and in patients with schizophrenia (27).…”