Mohammad Zaman Kamkar1, Akram Sanagoo2, Fatemeh Zargarani3, Leila Jouybari4, Abdoljalal Marjani5
1Department of Psychiatry, Golestan Research Center of Psychiatry, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran.
2Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran.
3Department of Psychiatry, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran.
4Education Development Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran.
5Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Gorgan Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran.
DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.175073
ABSTRACT
Background: Metabolic syndrome is commonly associated with cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric mental illness. Hence, we aimed to assess the metabolic syndrome among severe mental illness (SMI). Materials and Methods: The study included 267 patients who were referred to the psychiatric unit at 5th Azar Education Hospital of Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan, Iran. Results: The mean waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the SMI with metabolic syndrome, but the high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was significantly lower. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in SMI patients was 20.60%. There were significant differences in the mean of waist circumference, systolic (except for women) and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood glucose in men and women with metabolic syndrome when compared with subjects without metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in SMI women was higher than men. The most age distribution was in range of 30-39 years old. The most prevalence of metabolic syndrome was in age groups 50-59 years old. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was increased from 30 to 59 years old. Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with SMI in Gorgan is almost similar to those observed in Asian countries. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was lower than western countries. These observations may be due to cultural differences in the region. It should be mention that the families of mental illness subjects in our country believe that their patients must be cared better than people without mental illness. These findings of this study suggest that mental illness patients are at risk of metabolic syndrome. According to our results, risk factors such as age and gender differences may play an important role in the presence of metabolic syndrome. In our country, women do less physical activity than men; therefore, the incidence of metabolic syndrome is higher among women.
Keywords: Gorgan, metabolic syndrome, severe mental illness.
