Journal of International Psychiatry

Objective: To investigate the alterations in bone mineral density (BMD) of patients with chronic schizophrenia and its influencing factors. Methods: A total of 135 patients hospitalized at the Third Peoples Hospital of Tongren City, Guizhou Province were divided into normal bone mass group, decreased bone mass group, and osteoporosis group based on their BMD. Levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting glucose (Glu), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were detected. General demographic data and clinical information of the three groups were compared to examine the key determinants affecting BMD. Results: The incidence of decreased bone mass was 19.3% (26 cases), while that of osteoporosis was 11.1% (15 cases). Compared with the normal bone mass group, patients in the osteoporosis group had a significantly higher age, lower BMI, and a greater SANS total score. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between age, SANS total score, and BMD, and a positive correlation between HbA1c and BMD. Conclusion: Older age, lower HbA1c level, and more severe negative symptoms are important predictive variables for reduced BMD in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Chronic schizophrenia; Metabolic syndrome; Bone mineral density; Osteoporosis.