Key Biomarkers and Physical Performance Indicators Associated with Pre-Frailty and Frailty in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia aged < 65 years

Abstract

Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of early death, an average life expectancy 10-25 years lesser, and higher risk of frailty than the general population. This study aimed to determine the relationship between A Body Shape Index (ABSI), body mass index (BMI), chlorpromazine (CP) equivalent dose, and blood urea nitrogen to creatinine (BUN / Cr) ratio in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia, with pre-frailty / frailty, and age < 65 years. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to analyze normality. Non-parametric methods were used for analysis. The study included 67 of 175 patients with chronic schizophrenia who were hospitalized and eligible for inclusion. Sixty-one patients were diagnosed with pre-frailty or frailty. Among the participants, 68.9% were pre-frailty, 31.1% were frailty, and 63.9% were at high mortality risk. Walking speed was significantly less in patients with frailty, highlighting its role in frailty assessment. The ABSI z-score was negatively correlated with grip strength, thereby linking abdominal obesity to muscle weakness. The BUN / Cr ratio was also correlated with grip strength, walking speed, and BMI, suggesting metabolic influences on frailty. Frailty in patients with schizophrenia often occurs at a younger age in patients with schizophrenia than in the general population, and routine assessment of ABSI z-score and BUN/Cr levels could offer valuable prognostic information. J. Med. Invest. 73 : 12-20, February, 2026