PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME IN PATIENTS ON ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUG THERAPY

Dr. Pem Chuki*, Dr. (Lt Col) AK Gupta, Dr. Ashok Kumar Sharma, Dr. (Lt Col) Navdeep Dahiya

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Psychiatric disorders are often chronic disorders requiring antipsychotic drug therapy along with psychotherapy. These antipsychotic drugs have been said to produce various side effects particularly the extrapyramidal side effect with the typical and the metabolic side effect with the atypical antipsychotic drugs. Limited data on the prevalence of metabolic side effects with the antipsychotic drug in Indians exist. Material and method: A cross sectional study conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Pune. A total of 140 patients (18 - 65 years) who had taken a single antipsychotic drug for at least 4 months were enrolled after informed written consent. Patients were labeled to have metabolic syndrome if he/she fulfills 03 or more of the following parameters: (a) Waist Circumference > 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women, (b) Serum triglyceride level ≥ 150 mg/dL, (c) High density lipoprotein (HDL) < 40 mg/dL in men and < 50 mg/dL in women, (d) Blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mm Hg, (e) Fasting serum Glucose level ≥ 110 mg/dL as per the criteria set by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP ATP III). Results: Overall the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 22.1%, significantly higher in the female population, patients of age > 40 years, olanzapine treated patients and longer duration treated patients. Conclusions: The prevalence was not observed to be higher than in the general population probably due to inclusion of younger patients, shorter exposure of therapy, differences in genetic profile, level of urbanization, lifestyle and socioeconomic status.

Keywords: Typical Antipsychotic drugs, Atypical antipsychotic drug, Metabolic syndrome, NCEP ATP III