Preliminary study on cardiovascular and biochemical responses to atypical and typical antipsychotic medication in schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Antipsychotic medications are essential for managing schizophrenia but are associated with metabolic side effects. This study aims to compare the cardiovascular effects of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenic patients. A total of 200 participants were recruited, including 100 schizophrenic patients (50 on typical drugs and 50 on atypical drugs), 50 patients yet to start treatment, and 50 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for hematological parameters, cardiac biomarkers, liver function, and lipid profiles. Data obtained were analyzed and mean comparison was performed using Graphpad prism 9. Results indicated that schizophrenic patients on antipsychotics exhibited significant alterations in hematological indices compared to healthy controls. The activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases were notably higher in patients taking both typical and atypical drugs (14.94 ± 7.38, 12.98 ± 4.69, 16.78 ± 8.44 and 13.80 ± 6.26, respectively). Moreover, cardiovascular markers revealed significant increases in cardiac troponin I, myoglobin, natriuretic peptide, and creatine kinase-myocardial band among patients on antipsychotics compared to healthy controls. Lipid profiles and blood glucose levels were also significantly elevated in patients treated with antipsychotics. The findings suggest that antipsychotic treatment is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders and mild liver injury, with atypical drugs showing greater toxicity. Consequently, frequent monitoring of schizophrenic patients on antipsychotic medications for metabolic disorders is essential. Future research should involve a larger and more diverse population, with the inclusion of various antipsychotic drugs and multi-site sample collections to validate these findings.