Main Article Content
Hyperglycaemia and Weight Gain Among Patients With Schizophrenia Treated With Antipsychotics in Enugu Nigeria.
Abstract
Aims: To investigate the effect of the use of antipsychotic medication on patients with schizophrenia with regard to their blood glucose profile and
weight.
Methods: From a sample of 209 antipsychotic naive patients with schizophrenia and an equal number of their first degree relatives matched for weight and gender, fasting blood glucose and weight were measured at baseline and repeated after four months.
Results: The mean initial and second wave fasting blood sugar for the cases were 4.24mmol/l (SD=0.36), and 5 . 2 6mmol/l (SD = 0.67) respectively, (t=22.13, df=208, p<0.001). Among the controls, the respective values were 4.23mmol/l (SD=0.42), and 4.22mmol/l (SD = 0.41) (t=0.86,df=208, p=0.38). The prevalence of hyperglycaemia 12.4% for the cases with a mean weight gain of 4.06kg (SD=3.05), while for the controls the mean weight gain was 0.06kg (SD=0.51) (t=18.65, df=416, p=<0.001).
Conclusion: The use of antipsychotic agents was significantly associated with hyperglycaemia and weight gain. This is in keeping with previous reports.
weight.
Methods: From a sample of 209 antipsychotic naive patients with schizophrenia and an equal number of their first degree relatives matched for weight and gender, fasting blood glucose and weight were measured at baseline and repeated after four months.
Results: The mean initial and second wave fasting blood sugar for the cases were 4.24mmol/l (SD=0.36), and 5 . 2 6mmol/l (SD = 0.67) respectively, (t=22.13, df=208, p<0.001). Among the controls, the respective values were 4.23mmol/l (SD=0.42), and 4.22mmol/l (SD = 0.41) (t=0.86,df=208, p=0.38). The prevalence of hyperglycaemia 12.4% for the cases with a mean weight gain of 4.06kg (SD=3.05), while for the controls the mean weight gain was 0.06kg (SD=0.51) (t=18.65, df=416, p=<0.001).
Conclusion: The use of antipsychotic agents was significantly associated with hyperglycaemia and weight gain. This is in keeping with previous reports.
