Primary research

Association between antipsychotics and weight gain among psychiatric outpatients in Pakistan: a retrospective cohort study

Syed Ahmer¹ , Rashid AM Khan¹ and Saleem Perwaiz Iqbal²

¹  Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

²  Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

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Annals of General Psychiatry 2008, 7:12doi:10.1186/1744-859X-7-12

Published:	18 August 2008

Abstract

Background

It has been known for a long time that use of antipsychotics, particularly atypical antipsychotics, is associated with weight gain and increase in risk of metabolic disturbances. In this study we have tried to find out if use of antipsychotics is associated with increase in weight and body mass index (BMI) in the Pakistani population.

Methods

We performed a case note review of all patients who had been prescribed antipsychotic medication at the psychiatry outpatient clinic of a tertiary care university hospital in Pakistan over a 4-year period.

Results

A total of 50% of patients had a BMI in the overweight or higher range at baseline. Patients showed a mean weight gain of 1.88 kg from baseline in 3 months and 3.29 kg in 6 months. Both of these values were statistically significant. The increase in mean BMI from baseline was 0.74 and 1.3 in 3 months and 6 months, respectively. In patients for whom we had at least one further weight measurement after baseline, 48% (39/81) showed a clinically significant weight gain.

Conclusion

Pakistani patients are just as likely to put on weight during antipsychotic treatment as patients from other countries. Considering that this population already has a much higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus compared to the Western countries, the consequences of increased weight may be even more serious in terms of increased morbidity and mortality.