Physical health monitoring for people with schizophrenia
David Castle, A.-N. Li
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder associated with significant comorbidities and early mortality. People with schizophrenia have a greater predisposition to the top 6 modifiable global mortality (cardiometabolic) risk factors as defined by the World Health Organization (compared with the general population). These are driven by genetic, lifestyle and disease factors, and obesogenic antipsychotic medications. Smoking, obesity and type 2 diabetes are the most important modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in people with schizophrenia. Enhanced physical health screening, especially for cardiometabolic risk factors, is recommended for people with schizophrenia. A multidisciplinary holistic approach is recommended for treating people with schizophrenia, using contact with primary care practitioners to review their physical health.