Association of antipsychotic and antidepressant treatment with metabolic syndrome and 10 years' coronary heart disease risk

Background: Cardiovascular risk is becoming a growing concern in patients receiving psychotropic medications. An increased Framingham risk score (FRS) and 10-year coronary artery disease risk has been reported in patients suffering from mental diseases. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the cardiometabolic risk profile in patients suffering from psychiatric disorders being treated with antipsychotics and antidepressants. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 68 patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders according to International Statistical Classification of Diseases-10 at a tertiary health-care center. Patient's demographic details, family history, level of education, duration of disease, use of alcohol and or nicotine, use of concomitant medications, psychotropic drug history, history of treatment of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, or any other medical conditions were also recorded. Waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein values were estimated by taking fasting venous samples under aseptic measures. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the International Diabetes Federation Criteria. Ten-year cardiovascular risk was assessed using the FRS. Statistical evaluation was done using appropriate parametric and nonparametric statistical methods. Results: A total of 49 patients were being treated with antipsychotic drugs and 19 were receiving antidepressants. The mean age of patient receiving antipsychotics were 37.51, and those receiving antidepressant were 34.15. The metabolic syndrome was 36.76% in patients taking antipsychotics as compared to 11.76% in patients on antidepressant. The mean FRS score in antipsychotic group was 7.48, and those receiving antidepressants were 4.7. The 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk score was significantly higher in patients receiving antipsychotics as compared to patients on antidepressants. Conclusion: Treatment with antipsychotics is associated with significantly higher 10-year CHD risk scores as compared to treatment with antidepressants