Changes in Anthropometry and Biochemical Parameters after Six months of Treatment in Newly Diagnosed Schizophrenic Patients: A Prospective Study
BC08-BC12
Correspondence
Dr. Afzal Ahmad,
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, G.S. Medical College and Hospital, Near Pilkhuwa Railway Station, Pilkhuwa, Hapur-245304, Uttar Pradesh, India.
E-mail: afzal200ml@gmail.com
Introduction: In schizophrenia, chemical pathophysiology is not fully understood. Hereditary, environmental free radical-induced damage is the proposed mechanism associated with it. Drug-related complications in schizophrenia due to altered pro-oxidative and antioxidant homeostasis is the major concern for a psychiatrist.
Aim: To evaluate changes in anthropometry and biochemical parameters by antipsychotic drugs and correlation between Serum Uric Acid (SUA) with other parameters before and after third and six months of treatment, in newly diagnosed schizophrenic patients.
Materials and Methods: In this prospective, observational study based on ICD-10 criteria, 107 drug-naive schizophrenia patients were screened for weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) as anthropometric variables, Blood Pressure (BP) and biochemical variables i.e., Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-c) and uric acid at the time of diagnosis, then after 3rd and 6th months of treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Significant (p<0.001) increase in SUA levels (5.17±1.3 mg/dL) were found after six months in respect to three months (4.85±1.5 mg/dL) after and before the start of treatment group (4.37±1.6 mg/dL). Increase in BMI, FBS, TC, TG were more after 6th month (26.3±5.2 kg/m2, 105.6±33 mg/dL, 174.5±49.8 mg/dL, 158.1±77.6 mg/dL respectively) compared to 3rd (24.3±4.5 kg/m2, 100.6±31.1 mg/dL, 160.5±38.3 mg/dL, 137.2±54.6 mg/dL respectively) and beginning (22.7±4.1 kg/m2, 95.5±27 mg/dL, 148.9±37.1 mg/dL, 113.2±42.4 mg/dL respectively) of treatment. Significant decrease in level of HDL-c and negative correlation with SUA were recorded after 6th, 3rd month of treatment and at baseline.
Conclusion: This prospective data provides the importance of serial monitoring of SUA in newly diagnosed schizophrenic, its level >4 mg/dL could be the ‘Red flag’ sign to trigger antioxidant SUA into pro-oxidant. These outcomes also provide a hypothetical basis for use of antioxidant supplementation as novel therapeutic strategies. Such implications could improve the prognosis and prevent future complication in schizophrenic patients.