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. 2006 Jun 27:2:14.
doi: 10.1186/1745-0179-2-14.

Prevalence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia over the course of the illness: a cross-sectional study

M De Hert  1 , R van Winkel, D Van Eyck, L Hanssens, M Wampers, A Scheen, J Peuskens
Affiliations

Prevalence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia over the course of the illness: a cross-sectional study

M De Hert et al. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. .

Abstract

Background: Patients with schizophrenia are at high risk of developing metabolic abnormalities.

Method: A prospective study focusing on metabolic disturbances in patients with schizophrenia, including an oral glucose tolerance test, is currently ongoing at our University Hospital and affiliate services. The prevalence of metabolic abnormalities at baseline was assessed in a cohort of 415 patients with schizophrenia. The sample was divided into 4 groups according to duration of illness: first-episode patients (<1.5 years), recent-onset patients (between 1.5 and 10 years), subchronic patients (between 10 and 20 years) and chronic patients (>20 years).

Results: Metabolic abnormalities were already present in first-episode patients, and considerably increased with increasing duration of illness. When compared to the general population matched for age and gender, much higher rates of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes were observed for patients with schizophrenia. For MetS, the increase over time was similar to that of the general population. In contrast, the difference in the prevalence of diabetes in patients with schizophrenia and the general population dramatically and linearly increased from 1.6% in the 15-25 age-band to 19.2% in the 55-65 age-band.

Conclusion: Thus, the current data suggest that on the one hand metabolic abnormalities are an inherent part of schizophrenic illness, as they are already present in first-episode patients. On the other hand, however, our results suggest a direct effect of the illness and/or antipsychotic medication on their occurrence. The data underscore the need for screening for metabolic abnormalities in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, already starting from the onset of the illness.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome per patient group. First-episode patients: duration of illness <1.5 years; recent-onset patients: duration of illness >1.5 years and <10 years; subchronic patients: duration of illness >10 years and <20 years; chronic patients: duration of illness >20 years.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Glucose abnormalities per patient group. First-episode patients: duration of illness <1.5 years; recent-onset patients: duration of illness >1.5 years and <10 years; subchronic patients: duration of illness >10 years and <20 years; chronic patients: duration of illness >20 years.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome per age-band in patients with schizophrenia compared to the general population according to ATP-III and IDF criteria.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Prevalence of diabetes per age-band in patients with schizophrenia compared to the general population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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