Changes in the Indicators of Metabolic Syndrome in Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients

Background and

Metabolic syndrome includes a series of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the changes in various indicators of this syndrome during hospitalization in a psychiatric department. Identifying these changes could help in reducing the risk of this syndrome.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 152 patients with psychiatric disorders who were admitted in Sari Zare Hospital, winter 2016. Fasting blood glucose (FBS), HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were recorded at the time of hospital admission and discharge.

Compared to the time of hospital admission, significant changes were seen in waist circumference (p=0.000) and TG (p=0.010) among schizophrenic patients at the time of hospital discharge. In patients with bipolar disorder, significant changes were found in waist circumference, TG, and also HDL at the time of hospital discharge (p= 0.017, 0.004, 0.045). Moreover, we found significant changes in FBS and waist circumference in patients with schizoaffective disorder (p=0.013 and p=0.018, respectively). In patients with substance use, no significant changes were seen in any of the indicators when being discharged from hospital. But patients with brief psychotic disorder showed significant changes only in waist circumference (p=0.005).

Changes in the indicators of metabolic syndrome are much more common than the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Indicators that are more likely to change during hospitalization and could be used in screening for prevention of metabolic syndrome include waist circumference and TG levels