Cardiovascular disease and mortality in people with schizophrenia or antipsychotic treatment: A cohort study in primary care.

People with schizophrenia (SZ) or under treatment with antipsychotic drugs (TAD) are considered to be at high risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, but the reasons are not fully understood. In addition, no longitudinal studies in the setting of primary care in Spain have been performed. We aimed at analysing the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CV mortality in the population with SZ and in the population without SZ but under TAD (NS-TAD). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study in primary care in Spain, based on data from computerized medical records and mortality recorded in the National Statistics Institute. Three groups were generated: SZ, NS-TAD and control group, with a 4-year follow-up period (2008 to 2011). RESULTS: In an adjusted model, SZ was established as an independent risk factor for CV mortality although not with non-fatal CVD incidence. The NS-TAD group was an independent risk factor for mortality of any cause and CVD, but not CV mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between SZ and NS-TAD support that SZ has an increased risk of CVD independently of TAD. Further studies to evaluate the origin and management are needed. The detection of CVD and the consequent secondary CV prevention in these high-risk populations should be prioritized. Herein, a greater interaction between primary care and mental health services is eagerly needed.

Sobrediagnóstico y sobretratamiento en el ámbito cardiovascular: factores de riesgo, no enfermedades / No disponible

Los factores de riesgo cardiovascular y en concreto la hipertensión arterial, hiperlipidemia y diabetes, representan una parte muy importante en relación con el emergente problema del sobrediagnóstico y sobretratamiento en atención primaria de salud. Las razones que apoyan esta amenaza son diversas. A su elevada prevalencia y a que la intervención sobre ellos no se va a ver reflejada de forma directa en el estado de salud, se suma que los criterios diagnósticos e indicaciones de tratamiento farmacológico no se basan en evidencias sólidas. Estas recomendaciones se han visto además modificadas en los últimos años en virtud de consensos profesionales, con grandes posibilidades de sobretratamiento y riesgo de efectos indeseables para la salud. Por ello es imprescindible evaluar adecuadamente los criterios diagnósticos, informar de las dudas existentes e insistir en la importancia de las modificaciones de los hábitos saludables como la dieta y el ejercicio físico, así como reflexionar activamente sobre las ventajas e inconvenientes del tratamiento farmacológico

Cardiovascular risk factors, specifically arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, represent a very important part in relation to the emerging problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in primary health care. The reasons that support this threat are diverse. Given its high prevalence and the fact that the intervention on them is not going to be reflected directly in the state of health, it is added that the diagnostic criteria and indications for pharmacological treatment are not based on solid evidence. These recommendations have also been modified in recent years by virtue of professional consensus, with great potential for overtreatment and risk of undesirable effects on health. Therefore, it is essential to adequately evaluate the diagnostic criteria, inform of existing doubts and insist on the importance of changes in healthy habits such as diet and physical exercise, as well as actively reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacological treatment

Sobrediagnóstico y sobretratamiento en el ámbito cardiovascular: factores de riesgo, no enfermedades.

Cardiovascular risk factors, specifically arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, represent a very important part in relation to the emerging problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in primary health care. The reasons that support this threat are diverse. Given its high prevalence and the fact that the intervention on them is not going to be reflected directly in the state of health, it is added that the diagnostic criteria and indications for pharmacological treatment are not based on solid evidence. These recommendations have also been modified in recent years by virtue of professional consensus, with great potential for overtreatment and risk of undesirable effects on health. Therefore, it is essential to adequately evaluate the diagnostic criteria, inform of existing doubts and insist on the importance of changes in healthy habits such as diet and physical exercise, as well as actively reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacological treatment.

Risk of underdiagnosis of hypertension in schizophrenia patients.

AIM: Arterial hypertension requires proper screening and management, and its underdiagnosis in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and/or antipsychotic treatment has been postulated. The objective of the study is to assess whether there are differences in the proportion of screened patients with a blood pressure >140/90 mmHg that are undiagnosed or not confirmed later (risk of underdiagnosis). METHODS: Cross-sectional study of clinical records from SIDIAPQ (Spain) during the 2006-2011 period. Three groups were studied: SZ, no SZ but under antipsychotic treatment, and control groups. Patients with established hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dementia, or diagnosis of SZ or starting with antipsychotic treatment during this period were excluded. RESULTS: The SZ group had a lower risk of underdiagnosis than the control group (OR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83-0.99; p < 0.05), at the expense of men (OR 0.8; 95% CI: 0.71-0.9; p < 0.001) and patients younger than 50 years of age (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74-0.93; p < 0.003). In the no SZ but under antipsychotic treatment group there were some differences, but not in the overall results. CONCLUSION: Preventive management of hypertension seemed to be sufficient for SZ and antipsychotic treatment patients. The lower prevalence of hypertension found in these groups may be due to other factors (blood pressure-lowering effect of psychoactive drugs or smoking) but these hypotheses must be evaluated with specific studies.

Screening of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with schizophrenia and patients treated with antipsychotic drugs: are we equally exhaustive as with the general population?

Many studies have previously shown increased cardiovascular risk factors related to schizophrenia independently from the use of antipsychotic drugs. However, a poorer effort in clinical detection and management of cardiovascular risk in patients with severe mental illness could also explain these results. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the differences in screening and incidence of cardiovascular risk factors between schizophrenia, non-schizophrenic patients on treatment with antipsychotic drugs (NS-TAD) and the general population. Data from adult subjects assessed by high-quality register general practitioners from 2006 to 2011 were extracted from the Catalonian SIDIAP database. The schizophrenia, NS-TAD, and control groups were compared in terms of measurements and incidence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and smoking. A total of 4911 patients in the schizophrenia group, 4157 in NS-TAD group, and 98644 in the control group were included. Schizophrenia patients were screened for dyslipidemia and diabetes more frequently than the control group, while for obesity or hypertension, they were screened equal to controls. Also, as compared to the control group, the NS-TAD group was more frequently screened for obesity with no differences in dyslipidemia and diabetes and less frequently for hypertension. Smoking was less frequently screened in both study groups. The incidence of all risk factors studied in both study groups was higher than or equal to the control group, except for hypertension, which had lower incidence. The lack of screening of risk factors does not appear decisive in the increased cardiovascular risk of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia seen in primary care. Studies evaluating the possible under diagnosis of the risk factors are required. ABBREVIATIONS: Schizophrenia (SZ); Treatment with antipsychotic drugs (TAD); Cardiovascular risk factor/s (CVRF); Without schizophrenia but on therapy with antipsychotic drugs (NS-TAD); Defined Daily Dose (DDD).

Psicosis, riesgo cardiovascular y mortalidad asociada: ¿vamos por el buen camino? / Psychosis, cardiovascular risk and associated mortality: Are we on the right track?

Los pacientes con patología psicótica tienen un mayor riesgo de mortalidad precoz. Además de las causas no naturales (accidentes, suicidio), la causa cardiovascular (CV) está de 2 a 4 veces más presente que en población general. Esta revisión no sistemática de MEDLINE pretende esclarecer el papel de todos los condicionantes implicados. La patología psicótica se relaciona con hábitos de vida poco saludables tales como el tabaquismo, la dieta no equilibrada o el sedentarismo. Los fármacos neurolépticos también han sido estudiados como desencadenantes de obesidad y síndrome metabólico. Por tanto, los pacientes psicóticos parecen predispuestos a sufrir muchos de los factores de riesgo CV «clásicos». No es de extrañar que las puntuaciones en las escalas de riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) (Framingham, SCORE) sean superiores a las de la población general. También encontramos publicaciones en las que evidencian mayor dificultad en el manejo de la prevención primaria y secundaria de la enfermedad CV. Además, algunos factores bioquímicos (niveles plasmáticos de cortisol, ACTH, homocisteína, PCR) podrían indicar una vulnerabilidad de la psicosis per se, así como los hallazgos sobre hiperglucemia y resistencia a la insulina en psicóticos no tratados con psicofármacos. Estos factores «no-clásicos» podrían alteran la validez de las escalas de RCV diseñadas para población general. Por otro lado, los fármacos antipsicóticos podrían controlar factores intrínsecos de la psicosis (han demostrado disminuir la mortalidad global), no quedando claro su papel en la mortalidad CV

Patients with psychotic disorders have a higher risk of early mortality. In addition to unnatural causes (accidents, suicide), death due to cardiovascular (CV) reasons is two to four times more prevalent in these patients than in the general population. This non-systematic review of MEDLINE aims to clarify the role of all the determining factors are involved. Psychotic disorders are related to unhealthy life habits such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity. Neuroleptic drugs have also been studied as triggers of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, psychotic patients seem predisposed to suffer from several of the «classic» CV risk factors. It is not surprising that their scores on the CV risk scales (Framingham, SCORE) are higher than the general population. We also found publications that showed poorer management of primary and secondary prevention of CV disease. In addition, some biochemical factors (plasma levels of cortisol, ACTH, homocysteine, PCR) may indicate a vulnerability in psychosis per se, as well as the findings on hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in psychotic "drug naive" patients. These "non-classical" factors could alter the validity of CV risk scales designed for the general population. Furthermore, antipsychotic drugs could control intrinsic factors of psychosis (they have shown to reduce global mortality), and their role in CV mortality is not clear

[Psychosis, cardiovascular risk and associated mortality: are we on the right track?]. / Psicosis, riesgo cardiovascular y mortalidad asociada: ¿vamos por el buen camino?

Patients with psychotic disorders have a higher risk of early mortality. In addition to unnatural causes (accidents, suicide), death due to cardiovascular (CV) reasons is two to four times more prevalent in these patients than in the general population. This non-systematic review of MEDLINE aims to clarify the role of all the determining factors are involved. Psychotic disorders are related to unhealthy life habits such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity. Neuroleptic drugs have also been studied as triggers of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, psychotic patients seem predisposed to suffer from several of the «classic¼ CV risk factors. It is not surprising that their scores on the CV risk scales (Framingham, SCORE) are higher than the general population. We also found publications that showed poorer management of primary and secondary prevention of CV disease. In addition, some biochemical factors (plasma levels of cortisol, ACTH, homocysteine, PCR) may indicate a vulnerability in psychosis per se, as well as the findings on hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in psychotic "drug naive" patients. These "non-classical" factors could alter the validity of CV risk scales designed for the general population. Furthermore, antipsychotic drugs could control intrinsic factors of psychosis (they have shown to reduce global mortality), and their role in CV mortality is not clear.