Prevalence of diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in a sample of patients with bipolar disorder

Objectives:  The presence of metabolic abnormalities is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are limited data on the prevalence of the metabolic abnormalities in disorders other than schizophrenia in which antipsychotic medication is part of routine treatment. Methods:  Sixty consecutive patients with bipolar disorder (BD) at our university psychiatric hospital and affiliate services were entered in an extensive prospective metabolic study including an oral glucose tolerance test. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was assessed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Protocol (ATP‐III) criteria, the adapted ATP‐III criteria using a fasting glucose threshold of 100 mg/dL, and the recently proposed criteria from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Results:  The analysis of 60 patients showed a prevalence of the metabolic syndrome of 16.7% (ATP‐III), 18.3% (adapted ATP‐III) and 30.0% (IDF), respectively. A total of 6.7% of the patients met criteria for diabetes and 23.3% for pre‐diabetic abnormalities. Conclusions:  The metabolic syndrome and glucose abnormalities are highly prevalent among patients with BD. They represent an important risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Assessment of the presence and monitoring of metabolic abnormalities and its associated risks should be part of the clinical management of patients with BD.