2020 Volume 11 Pages 15-22
Objective: Patients with schizophrenia have higher morbidity and mortality rates than the general population and a shorter life expectancy. While increased plasma triglyceride levels constitute a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disturbances are seen in patients with schizophrenia and in those on antipsychotics. This study assessed the triglyceride levels of patients with schizophrenia who were administered antipsychotic monotherapy in various treatment settings as a post-hoc analysis of a previous nationwide survey.
Methods: The final study population comprised 2416 inpatients and 1159 outpatients selected using questionnaire surveys were administered at facilities within the Japan Psychiatric Hospitals Association. Analysis of covariance was performed to compare the triglyceride levels among the three antipsychotic groups: olanzapine, risperidone or aripiprazole.
Results: The triglyceride levels of inpatients were significantly different among the three antipsychotic groups after adjusting for body mass index, age, sex and chlorpromazine-equivalent dosage. In the post-hoc analysis, inpatient triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the olanzapine group (106.5 ± 61.8 mg/dL) than the risperidone group (97.1 ± 50.4 mg/dL). In contrast to inpatient hospitalisations, outpatient settings may mask the antipsychotic treatment effects on triglyceride levels.
Conclusions: Triglyceride levels differ based on the type of antipsychotic treatment in inpatients but not outpatients.
