Influence of cardiovascular risk factors on the cognitive functions of schizophrenia patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) are quite often observed in the group of patients with schizophrenia, contributing to a deterioration in their standard of living. In addition, CVRF can cause death of such patients. However, the influence of these factors on many spheres of schizophrenia patients, in particular cognitive functions, remain understudied. The objective of the research was to study the effect of CVRF (hypertension (HT), cardiac disorders (ischemic heart disease), intracardiac conduction disturbance), diabetes mellitus (DM), and myocardial infarction (MI) on cognitive functions of schizophrenia patients. The study involved 102 patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia who were hospitalized in psychiatric departments № 1 and № 5 of the State Institution «Lugansk Republican Clinical Psychoneurological Hospital», Lugansk People»s Republic. All study participants were divided into two study groups: 1st — the control group (n = 52), 2nd — the group of patients with CVFR (n = 50). The mean age of the patients was 47.7±5.6 years; there were 40 males (39.2 %) and 62 females (60.8 %). Clinical, psychopathological, catamnestic, psychometric, and statistical research methods were used. As a result of the study, it was found that the patients with CVFR had poorer cognitive test scores for almost all of the presented parameters. Regression analysis in relation to the effect of CVFR on the general state of cognitive functions showed that all these factors considerably affected the cognitive status, with HT being the most statistically significant. CVFR can have a negative impact on the state of cognitive functions in schizophrenia patients.