Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T20:10:22.067Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Point prevalence of diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and smoking in outpatients on clozapine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Larkin Feeney
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3, Ireland
Fiona Kelly
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3, Ireland
Judy Lee
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3, Ireland
Elizabeth Kelly
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3, Ireland
Sheila McLaughlin
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3, Ireland
James H O'Boyle
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3, Ireland

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with schizophrenia are known to be at higher risk than the general population of cardiovascular disease. Clozapine has been associated in the literature with high levels of cardiovascular risk factors such as weight gain, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. We set out to determine the prevalence of these risk factors in a population of Irish psychiatric patients.

Method: In February 2006 we measured body mass index, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid levels, mean blood pressure and smoking rates among all outpatients prescribed clozapine attending an urban, community based mental health service.

Results: There were 50 outpatients (33 male; 17 female) on clozapine and they had been taking it for a mean of 5.4 years (mean daily dose 428.8mg). The mean body mass index was 28.3. Patients had gained a mean of 8kg since commencing clozapine. One patient had been diagnosed with diabetes. Of the other 49 none met diagnostic criteria for diabetes. The mean fasting blood glucose was 5.5mmol/l and the mean HbA1c was 5.7%. One patient was on treatment for hyperlipidaemia. The mean fasting cholesterol among the other 49 patients was 5.4mmol/l, while the mean fasting triglycerides was 2.1 mmol/l. Thirty (61.2%) had a fasting cholesterol greater than 5.0mmol/l, while 18 (36.7%) had triglycerides of greater than 2.0mmol/l. Three patients were on treatment for hypertension. Thirty-six of the 50 (72%) smoked (mean 13 cigarettes per day).

Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension in this population was high but lower than might have been expected from US studies. It is important that cardiovascular risk factors are closely monitored and actively addressed in this at risk population.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Hennekens, CH, Hennekens, AR, Hollar, D, Casey, DE. Schizophrenia and increased risks of cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J 2005; 150: 11151121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Brown, S. Excess mortality of schizophrenia. A meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry 1997; 171: 502508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Joukamaa, M, Heliovaara, M, Knekt, P, Aromaa, A, Raitasalo, R, Lehtinen, V. Schizophrenia, neuroleptic medication and mortality.Google Scholar
4.Lamberti, JSet al.Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among patients receiving clozapine. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163: 12731276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Lamberti, JSet al.Diabetes mellitus among outpatients receiving clozapine: prevalence and clinical-demographic correlates. J Clin Psychiatry 2005; 66: 900906.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Hendersen, DC, Daley, TB, Kunkel, L, Rodrigues-Scott, M, Koul, P, Hayden, D. Clozapine and hypertension: a chart review of 82 patients. J Clin Psychiatry 2004; 65: 686689.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Olfson, M, Marcus, SC, Corey-Lisle, P, Tuomari, AV, Hines, P, L'Italien, GJ. Hyperlipidemia following treatment with antipsychotic medications. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163: 18211825.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Smith, RC, Lindenmayer, JP, Bark, N, Warner-Cohen, J, Vaidhyanathaswamy, S, Khandat, A. Clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, and conventional antipsychotic drug effects on glucose, lipids and leptin in schizophrenic patients. Int J Neuropsychopharmacology 2005;8:183194.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Leonard, P, Halley, A, Browne, S. Prevalence of obesity, lipid and glucose abnormalities in outpatients prescribed clozapine. Ir Med J 2002; 95: 119120.Google ScholarPubMed
10.Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS). SPSS for Windows, ReleaseGoogle Scholar
12. 2003, Chicago, II: SPSS.Google Scholar
11.Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Report of the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care 2003; 26: S520.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.British Cardiac Society, British Hyperlipidaemia Association, British Hypertension Society, and British Diabetic Association. Joint British recommendations on prevention of coronary heart disease in clinical practice: Summary. BMJ 2000; 320: 705708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Creagh, Det al.Established cardiovascular disease and CVD risk factors in a primary care population of middle aged Irish men and women. Ir Med J 2002; 95: 298301.Google Scholar
14.Kabir, Zet al.Life years gained from population risk factor changes and modern cardiology treatments in Ireland. Eur J Pub Health 2006; Epub ahead of print, PMID: 16798782.Google Scholar
15.Tiihonen, Jet al.Effectiveness of antipsychotic treatments in a nationwide cohort of patients in community care after first hospitalisation after schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: observational followup study. BMJ 2006; 333: 224227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar