Audit of metabolic syndrome in adults prescribed clozapine in community and long-stay in-patient populations

Abstract

Aims and MethodsTo calculate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients receiving clozapine in community and long-stay in-patient settings. Patients were assessed using measures specified by the Expert Panel of the US National Cholesterol Education Program.ResultsThe prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was calculated as 53% in the community groups and 11% in the in-patient group, although both sample sizes (particularly the in-patient group) were small. Women were more frequently affected than men in the community population.Clinical ImplicationsThe higher percentage of metabolic syndrome in the community patients receiving clozapine has implications with respect to physical health. The reasons for the lower percentage in the in-patient group are unclear. Our findings point to a possible difference in the physical health of long-stay psychiatric in-patients and patients in the community.