Gurpreet Rekhi1, Toe Toe Khyne2, Jimmy Lee3. 1. Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747, Singapore. Electronic address: gurpreet_rekhi@imh.com.sg. 2. Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747, Singapore. 3. Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747, Singapore; Department of General Psychiatry 1, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747, Singapore; Office of Clinical Sciences, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the cardiovascular risk profile of Asian patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Data was extracted from the databases of 139 patients with schizophrenia and 206 controls from two previous studies conducted at the Institute for Mental Health (IMH), Singapore. Their medical and smoking histories were obtained, and anthropometric parameters measured. Framingham risk score (FRS) calculator using body mass index was used to compute the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (FRSBMI) and the vascular age (VABMI) for each participant. Data on fasting lipids were available for 80 patients and all the controls; hence the FRS for lipids (FRSlipids) and VA (VAlipids) were also computed. The difference between VA and actual age was computed as VAdiff. RESULTS: The 10-year CVD risk and VAdiff based on lipids as well as BMI were significantly higher for patients compared to controls (all p<0.01). There was a strong correlation between FRSlipids and FRSBMI (r=0.97, p<0.001). Significantly higher numbers of patients than controls were smokers and obese; and reported having dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high risk of CVD in patients with schizophrenia as compared to controls; and conclude that patients with schizophrenia need regular physical health monitoring, especially for cardiovascular risk factors.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the cardiovascular risk profile of Asian patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Data was extracted from the databases of 139 patients with schizophrenia and 206 controls from two previous studies conducted at the Institute for Mental Health (IMH), Singapore. Their medical and smoking histories were obtained, and anthropometric parameters measured. Framingham risk score (FRS) calculator using body mass index was used to compute the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (FRSBMI) and the vascular age (VABMI) for each participant. Data on fasting lipids were available for 80 patients and all the controls; hence the FRS for lipids (FRSlipids) and VA (VAlipids) were also computed. The difference between VA and actual age was computed as VAdiff. RESULTS: The 10-year CVD risk and VAdiff based on lipids as well as BMI were significantly higher for patients compared to controls (all p<0.01). There was a strong correlation between FRSlipids and FRSBMI (r=0.97, p<0.001). Significantly higher numbers of patients than controls were smokers and obese; and reported having dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high risk of CVD in patients with schizophrenia as compared to controls; and conclude that patients with schizophrenia need regular physical health monitoring, especially for cardiovascular risk factors.