Coronary artery calcification in people with schizophrenia

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of premature mortality in patients with schizophrenia. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an independent predictor of cardiac mortality and CAD in the general population, but has not yet been investigated in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the present study is to compare CAC quantified by cardiac computed tomography (CT) in patients with schizophrenia to the general population.Baseline data from an ongoing prospective cohort study including 200 patients with schizophrenia (ICD-10 diagnoses F20 or F25) diagnosed at least 10 years prior to inclusion (chronic group) and 86 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed within two years prior to inclusion (debut group). Patients in the debut group were matched 1:1 on age, gender and smoking status with psychiatrically healthy controls (PHC). All participants underwent cardiac CT and the CAC was quantified using Agatston Score. Mean CAC in the chronic group was compared to reference CAC scores whilst mean CAC in the debut group was compared to PHC. Information on cardiovascular risk factors, illness history, social and psychiatric conditions were obtained at baseline.Data is currently being analyzed and results will be presented at the Congress of International Schizophrenia Research Society.If the CAC quantified by CT in patients with schizophrenia differs from the PHC population, it might act as a tool for early detection of CAD in these patients. Thus, the findings of this study might contribute to preventive strategies in order to decrease cardiovascular mortality.