Metabolic disease and cardiovascular risk in people treated with antipsychotics in the community

Background Prevalence of physical comorbidity in severe mental illness is a significant public health concern, but comparative data in people with diagnoses other than schizophrenia are sparse. Aims To investigate the prevalence of metabolic disease and cardiovascular risk in people with severe mental illness treated with antipsychotics in the community. Methods Case-control study of 90 people treated with antipsychotics in the community and 92 age- and gender-matched controls. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and 10-year cardiovascular risk were calculated. Results People on antipsychotics had a significantly worse metabolic profile than controls (F=6.583, d.f=15,161, P < 0.0001).Moreover, metabolic syndrome was more prevalent (OR=3.68, 95% CI 1.71-7.93, P=0.001), as was cardiovascular risk across a number of outcomes. These results are consistent across diagnostic groups. Conclusions People with severe mental illness treated with antipsychotics have excess metabolic dysfunction and heightened risk for cardiovascular disease.