Metabolic Syndrome among SchizophrenicPatients: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study inthe Middle Belt of Ghana

The study determined the prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia at the Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye TeachingHospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. This comparative cross-sectional study recruited 348 schizophrenic patients comprising 236antipsychotic-treated and 112 newly diagnosed treatment-na ̈ıvepatients. The MetS prevalence was assessed based on WorldHealth Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the National Cholesterol Education Programme, AdultTreatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The overall prevalence of MetS was 14.1%, 20.4%, and 23.6% using NCEP ATP III,WHO, and IDF criteria, respectively, compared to 7.8%, 3.9%, and 2.2% reported in the general Ghanaian population. The prevalencewas significantly higher among treated psychiatric patients compared to treatment-na ̈ıvegroup based on NCEP ATP III (17.8%versus 6.2%; p = 0.0001), WHO (26.2% versus 8.0%; p<0.0001), and IDF (30.3% versus 10.0%; p<0.0001). MetS was prevalentamong patients on atypical antipsychotics compared to typical antipsychotics irrespective of the criteria used (i.e., 17.1% versus11.1% for NCEP ATP III; 29.5% versus 25.9% for WHO; and 44.3% versus 18.5% for IDF). Using logistic regression model, obesity,raised fasting blood sugar, raised total cholesterol, and decreased high density lipoprotein were observed to be significant predictorsof MetS (p<0.05).The study found high prevalence of MetS in Ghanaians with schizophrenia and higher prevalence rate of MetSassociated with monotherapy. Regular monitoring of cardiometabolic parameters should be an important therapeutic objective inthe management of these patients.