Higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and related factors in patients with first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study in Turkey

Abstract

Background Schizophrenia patients (SPP) have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and are twice more likely to experience diabetes mellitus and obesity than the general population. Aims The main purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of MetS and its components in first-episode psychosis patients (FEPP) and SPP. Methods This study consisted a total of 38 untreated FEPP, 40 SPP and 41 randomly selected healthy volunteers admitted to the psychiatric outpatient clinic. The diagnosis of MetS was made based on Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), ATP III-A and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Results The prevalence of MetS was 26.3, 28.9 and 31.5% according to ATP III, ATP III-A and IDF criteria in the FEPP, respectively. The prevalence of MetS was 37.5, 40 and 42.5% according to ATP III, ATP III-A and IDF criteria in the SPP, respectively. The prevalence of MetS was 9.7, 9.7 and 12.2% according to ATP III, ATP III-A and IDF criteria in the control group, respectively. The prevalence of MetS was higher in female patients than male patients based on all three diagnostic criteria. The MetS patients had a higher mean of age, a longer duration of disease, and treatment compared to patients without MetS. Conclusion The current study found that FEPP and SPP had an increased prevalence of MetS. Especially, clinicians should pay attention to MetS in SPP due to the presence of risk factors, such as advanced age, being female, and long duration of disease and treatment.