The prevalence and clinical correlates of metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic alterations in 430 drug-naive patients in their first episode of schizophrenia

Rationale Although metabolic abnormalities and metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been extensively investigated in schizophrenia, few studies have examined them in first-episode drug-naive (FEDN) patients. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical correlates of metabolic abnormalities in FEDN schizophrenia patients. Methods A total of 430 FEDN schizophrenia patients and 453 controls were recruited. Various parameters were measured including BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results Patients had a higher prevalence of MetS, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-C, elevated HAb1c, and elevated insulin than controls (19.1% vs. 6.6%, OR = 2.52; 33.3% vs. 12.1%, OR = 3.05; 30.5% vs. 16.1%, OR = 2.25; 43.1% vs. 24.0%, OR = 2.21; 25.6% vs. 10.8%, OR = 2.62; 9.1% vs. 0.9%, OR = 10.29; all p Bonferroni < 0.001). Waist circumference was associated with PANSS general psychopathology and total score (correlation coefficient r = 0.17, p Bonferroni < 0.001; correlation coefficient r = 0.16, p Bonferroni = 0.004). Fasting glucose was associated with PANSS negative, general psychopathology, and total score (correlation coefficient r = 0.13, p Bonferroni = 0.03; correlation coefficient r = 0.19, p Bonferroni < 0.001; correlation coefficient r = 0.20, p Bonferroni < 0.001). BMI (OR = 1.37), smoking (OR = 3.39), and HOMA-IR (OR = 5.60) were associated with MetS in FEDN schizophrenia (all p < 0.001). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that MetS and metabolic abnormalities co-existed in the early stages of schizophrenia without antipsychotics. Waist circumference and glucose were associated with psychopathological symptoms, while BMI, smoking, and HOMA-IR were associated with MetS in FEDN schizophrenia.