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Metabolic syndrome

What is metabolic syndrome in bipolar disorder?

Metabolic syndrome is defined by a clustering of at least three interrelated abnormalities including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, high triglycerides, or low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

What is the evidence for comorbid metabolic syndrome?

Moderate to high quality evidence finds the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in people with bipolar disorder is around 37%. Rates were highest in New Zealand, Australia and North America, in people treated with antipsychotics, and in older people. Compared to people without the disorder matched to people with the disorder for age and sex, there was a small increased risk of metabolic syndrome in people with the disorder. Moderate to high quality evidence also shows a small increased risk of hypertension. Moderate quality evidence suggests no significant differences in the rates of metabolic syndrome between people with bipolar disorder and people with schizophrenia or major depression.

October 2020

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Last updated at: 12:40 am, 26th October 2021
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Fact Sheet Technical Commentary
Tags:  Cardiometabolic

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