Prevalence of obesity and clinical and metabolic correlates in first-episode schizophrenia relative to healthy controls

Objective People with schizophrenia exhibit a high obesity rate. However, little is known about the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with clinical symptoms and metabolic indicators in first-episode drug-naive (FEDN) schizophrenia. Methods Demographic and lipid parameters were gathered from 297 FEDN schizophrenia and 325 healthy controls. The patients' symptomatology was evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results The obesity rate of FEDN patients was 10.77%, similar to that of controls (10.5%). The prevalence of overweight plus obesity of patients was 44.8%, significantly higher than that of controls (36.6%). Compared with non-obese patients, obese patients had higher levels of cholesterol (4.81 +/- 0.93 vs 4.22 +/- 1.00 mmol/L), triglyceride (0.27 +/- 0.21 vs 0.14 +/- 0.24 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein (0.48 +/- 0.12 vs 0.40 +/- 0.12 mg/dL), greater ratio of triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (2.01 +/- 1.23 vs 1.44 +/- 1.26), and higher PANSS positive symptom subscale score (29.81 +/- 6.29 vs 27.05 +/- 6.15), general psychopathology subscale score (70.75 +/- 11.74 vs 66.87 +/- 11.37), and total score (149.81 +/- 21.08 vs 140.64 +/- 21.58), but lower high-density lipoprotein level (1.09 +/- 0.21 vs 1.27 +/- 0.34 mg/dL) (all p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio, PANSS positive symptoms, general psychopathology, and total scores (all p < 0.05, r = 0.124 similar to 0.335). Multiple regression analysis confirmed that PANSS positive symptoms, total score, and cholesterol level were significantly associated with BMI (all p < 0.05, beta: 0.126-0.162). Conclusion There was no significant difference in the prevalence of obesity between FEDN patients and the control group. Moreover, BMI was positively associated with positive symptom severity in FEDN patients.

Automated summary

There was no significant difference in the prevalence of obesity between FEDN patients and the control group. BMI was positively associated with positive symptom severity in FEDN patients, along with higher levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and other lipid parameters in obese patients.