Cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia

Med J Aust. 2017 Feb 6;206(2):91-95. doi: 10.5694/mja16.00650.

Abstract

Patients with schizophrenia die on average 25 years earlier than the general population, and this gap appears to be increasing. Most of the excess mortality is due to premature cardiovascular deaths rather than suicide. Many psychotropic agents are orexigenic and can increase weight and promote dyslipidaemia. Traditional cardiac risk factors are undertreated among patients with schizophrenia, and they are less likely to receive cardiac revascularisation than those without a mental illness. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication effective for treatment of refractory schizophrenia, but is associated with the risk of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. Established protocols in Australia screen for myocarditis for patients who are initiating clozapine therapy and for long term monitoring for cardiomyopathy with echocardiography. Coordinated care between tertiary providers, general practitioners and primary health care professionals should monitor the physical health of people with psychosis or schizophrenia at least annually and treatment should be offered accordingly.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / chemically induced
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Clozapine / adverse effects*
  • Delivery of Health Care / standards
  • Echocardiography
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Mental Health Services / standards
  • Metabolic Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / complications
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / mortality
  • Myocarditis / chemically induced
  • Risk Factors
  • Schizophrenia / complications*
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology
  • Schizophrenia / mortality

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Clozapine