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The presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are limited data on the prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia at the onset of the disorder and specifically no data on patients treated in the era when only first-generation antipsychotics were available.Methods: Data from a historic cohort of consecutively admitted first-episode patients with schizophrenia treated with first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) were compared with an age and sex matched series of consecutive first-episode patients treated only with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Rates of MetS were compared at baseline and after on average 3 years of treatment exposure.Results: At first episode there was no difference in the prevalence of MetS between the historic and the current cohort. Rates of MetS increased over time in both groups, but patients started on SGAs had a three times higher incidence rate of MetS (Odds Ratio 3.6, CI 1.7-7.5). The average increase in weight and body mass index was twice as high in patients started on SGA. The difference between the FGA and SGA group was no longer significant when patients started on clozapine and olanzapine were excluded. Conclusion:Rates of MetS at the first episode of schizophrenia today are not different from those of patients 15 to 20 years ago. This finding counters the notion that the high rates of metabolic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia currently reported are mainly due to lifestyle changes over time in the general population. Some SGAs have a significantly more negative impact on the incidence of MetS compared to FGAs in first-episode patients.

Objectives: The presence of metabolic abnormalities is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are limited data on the prevalence of the metabolic abnormalities in disorders other than schizophrenia in which antipsychotic medication is part of routine treatment.Methods: Sixty consecutive patients with bipolar disorder (BD) at our university psychiatric hospital and affiliate services were entered in an extensive prospective metabolic study including an oral glucose tolerance test. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was assessed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Protocol (ATP-III) criteria, the adapted ATP-III criteria using a fasting glucose threshold of 100 mg/dL, and the recently proposed criteria from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).Results: The analysis of 60 patients showed a prevalence of the metabolic syndrome of 16.7% (ATP-III), 18.3% (adapted ATP-III) and 30.0%) (IDF), respectively. A total of 6.7% of the patients met criteria for diabetes and 23.3% for pre-diabetic abnormalities. Conclusions:The metabolic syndrome and glucose abnormalities are highly prevalent among patients with BD. They represent an important risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Assessment of the presence and monitoring of metabolic abnormalities and its associated risks should be part of the clinical management of patients with BD. Key words: bipolar disorder -diabetes -metabolic syndrome -physical healthSince the introduction of second-generation antipsychotics and their association with metabolic abnormalities, there has been a rise of interest in the occurrence of metabolic abnormalities in patients treated with these drugs, although the main focus of research was on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (1-3). The issue of abnormalities in glucose metabolism has received most attention (1, 4-9).Next to diabetes, there has been a surge of interest into other medical conditions such as cardiovascular morbidity, abnormal lipid metabolism and obesity that also have a serious impact on the physical health. In patients with schizophrenia, recent research has demonstrated a prevalence of 40-50% of the metabolic syndrome, which comprises abnormalities in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, obesity and blood pressure (10-12).In contrast to patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, research on metabolic abnormalities in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) has been relatively scarce. Three retrospective chart reviews of patients with BD (13-15), one of which also investigated diabetes prevalence in patients with schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia (15), * MDeH has been a consultant to, received grant /research support and honoraria from, and has served on the speakers/advisory boards of AstraZeneca, Lundbeck JA, Janssen-Cilag, Eli Lilly & Co., Pfizer, Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb. DVE has served on the speakers/advisory board of Sanofi. LH is an employee of Bristol-Myers Squibb. AS has served on the speakers/advisory boards of P...

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

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