Obesity and associated clinical and demographical characteristics among Swedish outpatients with psychotic disorders
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Abstract
Background: Body mass index (BMI) is a clinical instrument to classify body weight and obesity among individuals and thus, often used to predict obesity-associated diseases. Studies indicate a higher prevalence of obesity among patients with psychotic disorders than in the general population. Hence, examining the background factors associated with obesity among outpatients with psychotic disorders could be used to inform interventions for patients at increased risk for obesity and related co-morbidities. Aim: To assess the prevalence, clinical correlates and background characteristics of obesity among Swedish outpatients with psychotic disorders. Methods: This study is an observational, cross-sectional study with register-based data from Sahlgrenska University Hospital outpatient clinics, collected between 2016–2019. The sample (n=1289) is heterogeneous in terms of age, sex and background characteristics. SPSS (IBM) v. 27 was used for data analysis, p-values defined with a 2-tailed significance level at 0.05. Results: Descriptive statistics confirm common clinical characteristics among obese outpatients. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and elevated blood pressure were significantly more common among obese outpatients (all p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed three significant independent predictive variables for obesity; a longer diagnosis duration of psychotic disorder reduced odds for obesity (OR=0.618), while current treatment with antipsychotic medication (OR=1.896), and birthplace outside of Sweden (OR=1.578) increased odds for obesity after controlling for background factors (e.g. age, sex). Conclusions: Our results suggest a risk profile for obesity and associated co-morbidity among our patient sample, namely outpatients born outside Sweden and currently treated with antipsychotic medication. The findings also highlight the need for early diagnosis and, subsequently, routine health monitoring and interventions with special attention directed towards patients with higher risk for obesity and associated health problems.