Factors influencing weight gain in an Asian population of psychiatric inpatients: a retrospective study in Taiwan

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with weight gain by psychiatric inpatients in short-term treatment.

Methods: A total of 378 medical records were reviewed, and sociodemographic, clinical, and baseline biochemical data from 221 psychiatric inpatients were analyzed.

Results: Evaluation of baseline characteristics indicated that the following were significant predictors of weight gain: Axis I diagnosis, treatment with second-generation antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, length of stay, admission body weight, low-density lipoprotein value, triglyceride level, and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the independent predictors of weight gain were length of stay and taking both a second-generation antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer. The triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio was an influencing factor inversely associated with weight gain (P = 0.063).

Discussion: Length of hospitalization and polypharmacy strongly predicted weight gain among psychiatric inpatients receiving short-term treatment.

Keywords: length of hospitalization; polypharmacy; psychiatric inpatient, risk factor triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio; weight gain.