Influence of first- and second-generation antipsychotics on anthropometric parameters of male psychiatric patients.

Maseqhala P Nkondo-Ndaba,Pierre M Joubert,Charl Janse Van Rensburg,Theona Ballyram

doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1772

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of antipsychotic medication, particularly second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Few studies have compared body measures of people with SMI taking first generation antipsychotics (FGAs) to those taking SGAs.AimWe compare body measures between long-term male inpatients using either FGAs or SGAs.SettingThe study was conducted at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital, in Pretoria, Gauteng.MethodsA total of 30 patients were selected from a list of male inpatients and were included in our study. Each participant had the following anthropometric measures done and these were compared between the two groups: Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR) and hip circumference (HC). Hospital records were used to record demographic variables, diagnosis, comorbid disease and psychotropic medication for each participant.ResultsParticipants in the FGA and SGA groups had similar body measures, resulting in similar BMI, WHR and WHtR. Participants had a mean HC of 100.5 cm, 95% confidence interval (CI) (97.68, 103.22). BMI ranged from 21.87 kg/m² to 37.65 kg/m², with an overall mean of 28.5 kg/m², 95% CI (26.69, 30.22). Participants had a mean WHtR of 0.59, 95% CI (0.56, 0.61). Participants had a mean WC of 100.6 cm and 95% CI (96.26, 104.87), and the mean WHR of both groups was 1.0.ConclusionParticipants using FGAs and SGAs had similar body measures, and these indicated that this sample of male inpatients with SMI is at high risk for CVD.

Highlights

People with severe mental illness (SMI), especially those with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, reportedly have a shorter life expectancy compared to the general population
Participants using firstgeneration antipsychotics (FGAs) and Second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) had similar body measures, and these indicated that this sample of male inpatients with SMI is at high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)
Second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) use is associated with metabolic syndrome, which is associated with increased CVD risk factors including hypertension, insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia and obesity.[4,5]

Summary

Introduction

People with severe mental illness (SMI), especially those with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, reportedly have a shorter life expectancy compared to the general population. This shorter life expectancy is associated with increased rates of risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, strokes, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, as well as other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).[1,2,3]. Second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) use is associated with metabolic syndrome, which is associated with increased CVD risk factors including hypertension, insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia and obesity.[4,5]. The use of antipsychotic medication, second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Few studies have compared body measures of people with SMI taking first generation antipsychotics (FGAs) to those taking SGAs

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