Title:Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk in People Treated with Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Vanessa Sanchez-Martinez*, Dolores Romero-Rubio, Maria Jose Abad-Perez, Maria Amparo Descalzo-Cabades, Sofia Alonso-Gutierrez, Jose Salazar-Fraile, Vicente Montagud and Lorenzo Facila
Affiliation:Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, University of Valencia, Valencia, Community Mental Health Centre Pere Bonfill, Valencia, Community Mental Health Centre Pere Bonfill, Valencia, Community Mental Health Centre Pere Bonfill, Valencia, Community Mental Health Centre Pere Bonfill, Valencia, Community Mental Health Centre Pere Bonfill, Valencia, Cardiology Department, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Cardiology Department, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
Keywords:Metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk, severe mental disorders, long-acting injectable antipsychotics, outpatients,
gender differences.
Abstract:Background: People with schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders have an increased
mortality mainly attributed to natural causes, specifically cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The metabolic syndrome and the Framingham Risk Score are epidemiologic tools related to long-term
cardiovascular disease risk and they are increased in people with severe mental disorders. This increase
has been attributed both to the disorder itself and to the use of antipsychotic drugs.
Objective: To quantify the cardiovascular risk in a group of people treated with long-acting injectable
antipsychotics.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study developed in an outpatient mental health clinic in which the
prevalence of metabolic syndrome was estimated and the cardiovascular risk was measured using the
Framingham Risk Score. All the analyses were separated by gender.
Results: 130 people (81 men) were recruited. According to the International Diabetes Federation criteria,
60 participants (46,2%) had metabolic syndrome. The individual criterion most often met in both
genders was obesity. The mean Framingham Risk Score for the sample was moderate, 7,7 (SD: 6,3).
For women, the risk was lower (mean 5,7, SD: 4,9) than for men (mean=9, SD: 6,7). There were no
significant differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and Framingham Risk Scores by longacting
injectable antipsychotic or years of treatment.
Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the cardiovascular risk are high in people with
psychosis treated with long acting injectable antipsychotics. To better address this vulnerability, the
recommendations involve both behavioral and pharmacological interventions.
