Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Psychiatric Outpatients in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kerala

Psychiatric disorders are among the leading causes of global morbidity. These are often chronic and need treatment with psychopharmacological agents for prolonged periods often extending up to a lifetime. The bulk of the research on metabolic syndrome (MS) shows that the use of the psychopharmacological agents. The present study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital, Perinthalmanna for eight months (Aug 2011- Mar 2012) with the aim of assessing the rate of Metabolic Syndrome in a group of psychiatric outpatients and also to determine the link between Second Generation Antipsychotics and Metabolic Syndrome. Out of the 65 patients included, 25 were found to have metabolic syndrome. The overall prevalence of MS was 38.5%. 16 patients at the first assessment and 9 at the second assessment had metabolic syndrome. However, the metabolic syndrome is not associated with the anti-psychotic therapy. This study shows that metabolic syndrome was higher in patients taking resperidone 17 (68%) followed by quietiapine 10 (40%). It was concluded that the occurrence of metabolic syndrome is not only related to the second generation antipsychotics but also it is due to various other factors such as genetic risk factors, increased cortisol levels, unhealthy diet (carbohydrate and fat rich diet), lack of exercise, propensity for the development of abdominal obesity. Therefore, psychiatrists should consider measuring BPand waist circumference, two components of the metabolic syndrome, which can be easily monitored in the office setting itself. Abnormalities in either BP or waist circumference warrant screening for the other components of the syndrome, more frequent monitoring of fasting glucose and lipids. If possible early interventions can be done such as diet control and exercise counseling to reverse the changes.