Metabolic syndrome in antipsychotic naive patients diagnosed with schizophrenia

Aim: The article aims to study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and subthreshold MS in antipsychotic naive patients with schizophrenia. Materials and methods: Forty-six antipsychotic naive patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were evaluated for the presence of metabolic abnormalities using International Diabetes Federation and modified National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel criteria. Results: Five patients (10.86%) fulfilled International Diabetes Federation criteria for MS and six patients (13.04%) met modified National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel criteria for MS. Additionally, 14 (30.43%) more patients fulfilled 2 out of the 5 criteria for MS and another 19 (41.3%) fulfilled 1 criterion for MS. Of the 19 patients who fulfilled one criterion for MS, 18 had an abnormality other than increase in waist circumference. Conclusion: Findings of the present study suggest that although only few antipsychotic naive patients diagnosed with schizophrenia have MS, a significantly large proportion of patients have subsyndromal MS. Awareness of this in clinicians can have implications in the selection of antipsychotic medication.