Bipolar Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome Study

Previous studies have suggested that bipolar disorder and metabolic syndrome share common risk factors. This includes endocrine disturbances, dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system, and unhealthy behaviors like physical inactivity, overeating, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

A recent study published in Acta Neuropsychiatrica has concluded that patients with a history of bipolar disorders are at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome than healthy individuals.

Study Overview

In this cross-sectional study, the study group consisted of 125 untreated individuals with bipolar disorders. The control group included 201 cases collected from the hospital's health examination center. The participants were assessed for general demographic data, case characteristics, and metabolic indexes. This includes BMI, BP, triglyceride, HDL-C, cholesterol, LDL-C, and fasting plasma glucose. Researchers observed the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in untreated individuals with bipolar disorders.

Key Results

• In the bipolar disorder group, metabolic syndrome incidence was higher than in the control group, 9.6% vs 8.5%.
• The difference between the groups was significant.
• Bipolar disorder patients had higher diastolic and systolic blood pressure than the control group.
• Compared to women, men with bipolar disorders had a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome (14.5% vs. 5.8%).
• The independent risk factors identified for metabolic syndrome were bipolar disorders, sex, age, and BMI.
• There was no significant difference in metabolic index and incidence of metabolic syndrome between individuals with depressive episodes and manic episodes.

"The risk of developing metabolic syndrome is higher in patients with bipolar disorders," says Dr. Liu Q from the Mental Health Institute of Hebei Medical University, China.

Bipolar disorders, male sex, age, and BMI contribute to the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Reference

Lundsgaard, Christoffer C., et al. "Blood-brain Barrier Permeability and Electroconvulsive Therapy - a Systematic Review." Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 2023, pp. 1-21.