Higher white blood cell counts are associated with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome and more severe psychopathology in non-diabetic patients with schizophrenia

Abstract 

Background

Unequivocal evidence has emerged linking inflammation to the risk of metabolic problems. Previous research also has suggested a relationship between inflammation and schizophrenia. The present study examined whether white blood cell count (WBC), a marker of systemic inflammation, is associated with metabolic syndrome and psychiatric symptoms in non-diabetic patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

Outpatients 19 to 75years old diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder participated in a multi-center, cross-sectional study. Vital signs and anthropometric measures were obtained. Fasting blood samples were collected to determine levels of glucose, lipids and WBC. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).

Results

In the sample of 199 patients, multiple logistic regression showed that WBC (log transformed) strongly predicted the condition of metabolic syndrome after potential confounding variables including age, gender, race, age of illness onset, family history of diabetes, smoking status and antipsychotic agent used were taken into consideration (odds ratio 47.2, 95% CI 3.4–658.7, p=0.004). On the other hand, significant correlations were found between WBC (log transformed) and BPRS-total score (r=0.18, p=0.014), negative symptom score (r=0.15, p=0.039) as well as anxious depression factor score (r=0.21, p=0.004) after potential confounding variables were taken into consideration.

Conclusion

This study suggested that WBC, a simple, readily available and inexpensive measure, may potentially be a useful marker to predict an increased risk for metabolic syndrome and more severe psychiatric symptoms in non-diabetic patients with schizophrenia.

Keywords: White blood cell count, Inflammation, Metabolic syndrome, Schizophrenia