Research view
Title: | Assessment of risk for cardiovascular disease in a sample of schizophrenic patients |
Author: | Shereen M. Abdel Mawella, Hoda A. Hussein, Talal A. Mohamed, Reda Roshdy and Mamdouh M. ElGamal |
Abstract: |
Background
Interest in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in schizophrenic patients has grown
recently because of documented increased mortality. Causes of this mortality are
most probably somatic diseases, particularly CVD. We aim to assess the risk for
developing CVD in schizophrenic patients using C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid
profile by applying the Framingham Risk Score and correlate this risk with the
severity of symptoms of schizophrenia.
Patients and methods
This is a cross-sectional study consisting of 62 schizophrenic patients who were
recruited from the Kuwait Center for Mental Health inpatient departments. The
structured Clinical Interview for DSM4 Axis of Disorders (SCID-I) and positive and
negative syndrome scalewere administered on all patients. Laboratory investigations
for serum level of CRP, total cholesterol level, and high-density lipoprotein level were
carried out. Cardiac risk was assessed on the basis of Framingham Risk Score.
Results
Twenty-one percent of patients had a risk for developing CVD as per the
Framingham Risk Score. All patients had intermediate to high risk of developing
CVD on the basis of baseline CRP. There was sex-related difference in
cardiovascular risk as women had no risk, whereas 25% of men had a risk for
developing CVD. There was no significant correlation between risk for CVD and
severity of symptoms of schizophrenia.
Conclusion
Our study points to the measurement of CRP and screening of lipid levels as an
improved method for identifying schizophrenic patients at risk for cardiovascular
events.
Keywords:
C-reactive protein, cardiac risk, schizophrenic patients
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Journal: | Egypt J Psychiatr 38:131–137 |
Text: | |
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