Key result
In patients with schizophrenia, the amount of coronary artery calcium followed general population norms, with 77.9% having a score below or equal to the 50th percentile and 12.3% above the 75th percentile.
Why the study?
Coronary heart disease causes increased mortality in schizophrenia, and coronary artery calcium correlates with CHD, leading researchers to investigate whether schizophrenia patients have more CAC than general population norms.
Does the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score in patients with schizophrenia differ from general population norms?
Cross-Sectional (n=163)
No
Does the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score in patients with schizophrenia differ from general population norms?
Patients with schizophrenia do not exhibit a higher burden of coronary artery calcium compared to the general population, suggesting that CAC scoring alone may be insufficient to detect their elevated risk of coronary heart disease.
CAC scores in schizophrenia match population norms; leaves open whether CAC underestimates their CHD risk.
BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of increased mortality rates in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is associated with CHD. We hypothesized that patients with schizophrenia have more CAC than the general population and aimed to investigate the CAC score in patients with schizophrenia compared to norms based on the general population. Additionally, this study investigated if age, sex, diabetes, dyslipidemia and smoking were associated with the CAC score. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 163 patients with schizophrenia underwent cardiac computed tomography, and the CAC score was measured and compared to norms by classifying the CAC scores in relation to the age- and gender matched norm 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles. Logistic and linear regression were carried out to investigate explanatory variables for the presence and extent of CAC, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 127 (77.9%) patients had a CAC score below or equal to the matched 50th, 20 (12.3%) above the 75th and nine (5.5%) above the 90th percentile. Male sex (P < 0.05), age (P < 0.001) and smoking (P < 0.05) were associated with the presence of CAC while age (P < 0.001) and diabetes (P < 0.01) were associated with the extent of CAC. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of CAC in patients with schizophrenia follows norm percentiles, and variables associated with the CAC score are similar in patients with schizophrenia and the general population. These findings indicate that the CAC score may not be sufficient to detect the risk of CHD in patients with schizophrenia. Future studies should explore other measures of subclinical CHD, including measures of peripheral atherosclerosis or cardiac autonomic neuropathy to improve early detection and intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02885792 , September 1, 2016.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Trab et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Schizophrenia (n=163). Schizophrenia vs. General population norms was evaluated on Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score below or equal to the age- and gender-matched norm 50th percentile. In patients with schizophrenia, the amount of coronary artery calcium followed general population norms, with 77.9% having a score below or equal to the 50th percentile and 12.3% above the 75th percentile.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: