Diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in Sri Lankan patients with schizophrenia

Background: Type 2 diabetes is commoner among South Asians than Europeans. The few studies of South Asian patients with schizophrenia have found increased prevalence of diabetes. Aims: To determine prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose among patients with schizophrenia presenting to an acute psychiatry unit. Methods: The sample consisted of all patients with ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia admitted to an acute psychiatry unit during one year. Data was obtained by retrospective review of patients’ records. Diabetes was diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association criteria when fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was ≥ 7.0 mmol/l. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was diagnosed when FPG was ≥5.6 mmol/l but <7.0 mmol/l. Results: Of the 164 patient records reviewed 104 (63.4%) had a recorded FPG level. There was no significant difference in age, gender and treatment between patients tested and not tested. Of the sample 28 (26.9%) were antipsychotic naive and 76 (73.1) had been treated previously. Mean age of the sample was 35.1 years (SD 12.7). Diabetes was diagnosed in 15 patients. Overall prevalence was 14.4% (females 11.4%, males 16.7%). Prevalence of IFG was 26%. Diabetes rates were highest (26.9%) among 30-39 year age group and IFG rates were highest (54.5%) among 50-59 year age group. Conclusions: Prevalence of diabetes and IFG is higher compared to the general population of Sri Lanka (10.3% and 11.5%) but similar to that of Caucasian patients with schizophrenia. Due to the high risk of dysglycaemia FPG should be done in all patients with schizophrenia.