Introduction: Second generation antipsychotic (SGA) was linked to increased risk of metabolic syndrome. The risk varies between different SGA. We aim to study this risk by examining the co-prescription of antihypertensive, antidiabetic and lipid lowering drugs in patients prescribed with either aripiprazole, quetiapine or clozapine.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study based on the prescription records of a teaching hospital. Prescription records between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014 for
psychiatric unit were extracted. Patients with at least one prescription of any antipsychotic were included. The odds of antihypertensive, antidiabetic and lipid lowering drugs co-prescription in patients with either aripiprazole, quetiapine or clozapine were calculated.
Results: Of the 1742 study subjects, 88 patients were prescribed with aripiprazole, 175 patients with clozapine and 124 patients with quetiapine. Patients prescribed with quetiapine had
higher odds of co-prescribed with antihypertensive (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.11, 2.63), antidiabetic drugs (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.11, 2.95) and lipid lowering drugs (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.19, 3.16). There were higher odds of co-prescription of antihypertensive (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.05, 2.25), antidiabetic drugs (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.10, 2.59) and lipid lowering drugs
(OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.24, 2.91) in patients with clozapine. However, there were no increase odds of co-prescription of the three agents in patients with aripiprazole.
Conclusion: We need to monitor the risk of metabolic syndrome in patients treated with SGA. Aripiprazole has lower risk of metabolic syndrome.