Metabolic Syndrome in Bipolar Affective Disorder

Purpose: To compare the prevalences of metabolic syndrome in both patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Material and Methods: A total of 105 patients with remitted bipolar disorder, 59 females and 46 males, and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled to the study. Metabolic syndrome was screened according to the Adult Treatment Protocol of the National Cholesterol Education Program III criteria. Results: Metabolic syndrome was determined in 29.5% of patients and 20% of controls. There was metabolic syndrome in 16 (27%) of 59 female patients and 15 (32%) of 46 male patients. There were no important differences between the patients and controls in regards to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. There were no significant relationship between gender and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder. Conclusion: It has been found that there was a higher rate of metabolic syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder than in controls, but this difference was not statistically important. It may be concluded that bipolar disorder itself and the drugs used in the treatment of this disorder may not increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Considering the gender distribution,there were no significant difference for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.