Is antipsychotic polypharmacy associated with metabolic syndrome even after adjustment for lifestyle effects?: a cross-sectional study
2011

Antipsychotic Polypharmacy and Metabolic Syndrome in Schizophrenia

Sample size: 334 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Misawa Fuminari, Shimizu Keiko, Fujii Yasuo, Miyata Ryouji, Koshiishi Fumio, Kobayashi Mihoko, Shida Hirokazu, Oguchi Yoshiyo, Okumura Yasuyuki, Ito Hiroto, Kayama Mami, Kashima Haruo

Primary Institution: Yamanashi Prefectural KITA Hospital

Hypothesis

Is antipsychotic polypharmacy associated with metabolic syndrome even after adjustment for lifestyle effects?

Conclusion

Antipsychotic polypharmacy may be independently associated with an increased risk of having pre-metabolic syndrome.

Supporting Evidence

  • 50.0% of patients were on antipsychotic polypharmacy.
  • 22.2% of patients were in the metabolic syndrome group.
  • Antipsychotic polypharmacy was significantly associated with the pre-metabolic syndrome group.
  • Antipsychotic polypharmacy was not significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome group.

Takeaway

This study found that taking multiple antipsychotic medications might increase the risk of a health problem called pre-metabolic syndrome in people with schizophrenia.

Methodology

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 334 patients to assess the association of metabolic syndrome with antipsychotic polypharmacy using multinomial logistic regression models.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to high refusal rates and special conditions in antipsychotic treatment in Japan at the time of the study.

Limitations

The study had a cross-sectional design, moderate sample size, and did not assess other psychotropic drugs except antipsychotics.

Participant Demographics

Mean age was 44.2 years, with 42.8% female participants.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.019

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 1.181-4.668

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-244X-11-118

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