Awareness of metabolic syndrome, lifestyle habits and attitudes towards physical health screening among service users prescribed clozapine

Objectives: To examine awareness of metabolic syndrome, lifestyle habits and attitudes towards physical health monitoring in a cohort of service users prescribed clozapine. Methods: A cross-sectional study, utilising chart reviews and surveys, of service users attending a clozapine clinic in Ireland, to examine awareness of metabolic syndrome, current dietary and exercise habits and attitudes towards physical health checks for metabolic syndrome was conducted. Results: Sixty-nine service users attending the clozapine clinic (53.1% of attendees) participated in the study of which 23 (33.3%) participants met criteria for metabolic syndrome within the previous 12 months. Nine (13.0%) participants were aware of the term "metabolic syndrome", with six aware of what metabolic syndrome entailed. Forty-seven (68.1%) participants described their diet as "healthy", with 17 (24.6%) participants reporting the consumption of five portions of fruit and vegetables per day on a regular basis. Thirty-eight (55.1%) participants reported engaging in ≥ 2.5 hours of exercise per week. Most participants (> 70% for all physical indices) agreed that physical health monitoring was important with 46 participants (66.7%) stating physical health monitoring should occur monthly. Conclusion: Although there was a limited awareness and understanding of "metabolic syndrome"in this cohort of service users prescribed clozapine, monitoring of physical health indices was acknowledged as important. Early dietary and exercise interventions in an attempt to combat high morbidity and premature mortality rates are advised for this service user cohort.