Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its clinical correlates among patients with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and examine the clinical correlates of MetS.

METHODS

Sixty-seven patients with BD were evaluated for presence for MetS. The consensus definition was used to define MetS. The clinical variables were recorded on the basis of information provided by the patients, accompanying caregivers and review of treatment records. The symptoms severity of present depressive and manic episode was assessed by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) respectively.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS was 53.7%. Patients with MetS were older than the patients with BD alone (P=0.001). Increased waist circumference was the most common abnormal parameter (74.6%) followed by low high density lipoprotein (HDL) (71.6%) and raised triglycerides (64.2%). High blood pressures were recorded in 35.8% with high fasting blood glucose levels were seen in 33.3%. MetS was associated with greater number of life time episodes (p=0.010), longer duration of illness (p=0.010), greater numbers of lifetime depressive episodes (p<0.001). Substance use (alcohol and nicotine) associated with significantly higher prevalence of high blood pressure among MetS patients (p<0.001) while abnormal triglyceride level shown associated with substance use (p=0.010). Age of the patients, number of lifetime depressive episodes and use of Olanzapine were found to predictive of the development of MetS.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BD have high prevalence of MetS and its presence correlates with clinical variables.