Prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

BackgroundA number of studies have examined the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in general populations and in those with schizophrenia and other forms of serious mental illness.AimsTo establish whether it is possible to describe accurately comparative rates of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in populations of people with schizophrenia and those without mental illness.MethodReview of current literature.ResultsResearch published in the pre-neuroleptic era suggested that people with severe mental illness were at increased risk of developing glycaemic abnormalities. Recent studies appear to confirm that the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance may be higher in people with schizophrenia than in the general population, and suggest that patients with schizophrenia have impaired glucose tolerance even before they begin treatment.ConclusionsSchizophrenia may be a significant and independent risk factor for both diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Current data preclude precise estimates of the prevalence of these conditions among people with schizophrenia.

Prevalence of obesity, glucose homeostasis disorders and metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients taking typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs: a cross-sectional study

“…An outpatient sample overcomes, to some extent, the confounding impact of physical inactivity on glucose homeostasis [18] which is inherent in studies of psychiatric inpatients [19]. In addition, we intentionally recruited subjects from across the diagnostic spectrum as many previous reports have focused specifically on schizophrenia [9,13]. These data highlight several important points regarding the physical health characteristics of this population, the degree of metabolic disturbance associated with typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs, and the poor detection and treatment rates in this patient group.…”

“…Other studies have reported glucose intolerance only in patients taking atypical antipsychotics [10]. The debate is further complicated by reports of increasing rates of obesity and diabetes in the general population [11] as well as the intriguing relationship between severe mental illness and impaired glucose homeostasis [12,13]. Responding to these areas of uncertainty, a Consensus Statement has been issued by a panel representing the American Diabetes Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity [14].…”

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Care Among People with Severe Mental Illness: A Literature Review

“…27,28 Since that time, other reports suggest even higher rates, with the prevalence of diabetes in people with SMI typically being twofold to threefold higher than age-matched samples from the general population. 10,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35] We are aware of only two large studies examining pre-diabetes among people with schizophrenia. 36,37 One study of older veterans with schizophrenia (mean age 59.6 yrs) screened for diabetes (N = 12,587, >95 % men) found that 42 % of these patients had pre-diabetes, which is comparable to 50 % of U.S. elderly adults.…”

Esquizofrenia y su asociación con enfermedades médicas crónicas

“…Además, estos pacientes presentan desde el inicio una alteración en la glicemia de ayuno, insulina basal y niveles de cortisol 16 . Estudios epidemiológicos señalan que los pacientes con esquizofrenia tienen, independiente del uso de antipsicóticos, mayor probabilidad de desarrollar algún grado de intolerancia a la glucosa incluyendo diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) 17 . En base a estos hallazgos es posible postular que las anormalidades metabólicas son una parte inherente de la enfermedad esquizofrénica.…”