AN ANALYSIS OF TOTAL CHOLESTEROL AND SERUM TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: DRUG-NAÏVE, AFTER TREATMENT, AND THEIR FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES

Pinku Mazumdar*, Jadab Kishore Phukan and Ankur Jyoti Borah

ABSTRACT

Background: Schizophrenia, a chronic mental disorder, is often associated with metabolic abnormalities, including dyslipidemia. Antipsychotic medications, particularly second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), which are commonly used to treat schizophrenia symptoms, have been linked to worsening these metabolic abnormalities. These drugs can cause considerable weight gain and unfavorable lipid profile alterations, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aim: To investigate the potential variations in total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels among drug naive, after treatment of schizophrenia patients and their first degree relatives. Methods: A cross sectional study of 60 participants, including drug-naïve schizophrenia patients (n=30), same patients after 2 months of treatment, and their first-degree relatives (n=30), were recruited. Lipid profiles, including total cholesterol and serum triglycerides, were measured using standardized biochemical assays. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA to compare the groups. Results: The study found significantly higher levels of total cholesterol and serum triglycerides in schizophrenia patients after-treatment compared to drug-naïve patients and their first-degree relatives. The mean ± SD values of total cholesterol were 195.9 ± 33.1 mg/dL for after-treatment patients, 171.4 ± 34.4 mg/dL for drug-naïve patients, and 161.9 ± 18.8 mg/dL for first-degree relatives. Similarly, serum triglyceride levels were 127.7 ± 34.3 mg/dL for after-treatment patients, 96.1 ± 33.0 mg/dL for drug-naïve patients, and 99.6 ± 29.3 mg/dL for first-degree relatives. Conclusion: The findings suggest that antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia patients is associated with significant increases in total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels. These metabolic alterations may contribute to the higher cardiovascular risk observed in schizophrenia patients.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Antipsychotic Medication, Total Cholesterol, Serum Triglyceride.