The Role of Antipsychotic Medications in Metabolic Syndrome Amongst a Predisposed Population: Review of The Saudi Case

Abstract

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest (in terms of area) Arab state of Western Asia with population of a nearly 20 million. 22.4% of Saudi patients reporting to services for mental disorders are suffering from schizophrenia. Globally, claims have been raised over the role of atypical antipsychotics. They have been suggested to be related with noteworthy cardiometabolic risk, and with pharmacological events that may intercede that threat. Weight gain, increased risk for dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, accelerated cardiovascular ailment, and premature fatality have been associated to drugs in this category as well. Amisulpride, olanzapine, risperidone, clozapine, quetiapine are the most commonly used anti-schizophrenic medications in KSA with no previous studies reported to assess their unwanted side effects. Whereby, a recent study noticed that patients on antipsychotic medications in Saudi Arabia possess several risk factors. The need for detailed research on this matter is compounded by a metabolically undesirable postnatal and gestational environment, which is widespread in the KSA, adjoins to the receptiveness of the already genetically liable person to a lifetime of insulin resistance and associated morbidities. Moreover, the prevalence of conventional risk factors for diabetes mellitus type 2, such as the full metabolic syndrome (MetSy) and its individual symptoms and criteria, have been reported in adult Saudis, 37% of whom have the full MetSy. The published literature survey is suggestive of an urgent demographical analysis and epidemiological survey to ascertain number of individuals affected with schizophrenia, this will also paw the ways to formulate strategy to address various issues pertaining to structural adjustments in health care services provided to the mentally ill patients in KSA.