Elevated Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Bipolar Disorder: When Does It Start and Where Does It Lead?

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A growing number of studies have demonstratedthat rates of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, and metabolic syndrome, all seriouscardiovascular disease risk factors, as well as standardizedmortality rates, are between 1.5 and 3 times greater inadults with bipolar disorder compared to the generalpopulation. Differences and similarities in prevalencerates between studies and compared to those observed inpatients with schizophrenia are influenced, in part, by patientdemographics, but also by the proportion of patientswho receive conventional mood stabilizers, (medium tohigh metabolic risk) antipsychotics, or both. At the sametime, studies have also shown that obesity and metabolicsyndrome are associated with greater psychopathology,comorbidities, suicidality, and relapse and rehospitalizationrates in adults with bipolar disorder.’ ‹