
A Heavy Burden: Bipolar Disorder and Obesity
How did patients with BDI and obesity fare in new research looking at quality of life issues?
CONFERENCE REPORTER
What effect does obesity have on patients with
Michael J. Doane, PhD, and colleagues collected data from the 2016 and 2020
Doane et al used the 36-item Short Form Version 2 and EuroQol EQ-5D health surveys to measure health related quality of life. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire was used to measure work productivity and absenteeism as well as work and activity impairment. The investigators also leveraged the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and US Bureau of Labor Statistics to ascertain direct and indirect costs.
The mean age of all participants was 34.1 years old, with patients in underweight/normal grouping tending to be younger than their peers in the overweight and obese groups. There were more females (65%) among the participants, and women were fairly evenly distributed among the BMI groups. Similarly, more than half (62%) of participants were white. Less than half of the participants were married (45%). The overall mean for being employed was 46%, and the percentage decreased as BMI increased. More than half of the overweight patients and obese were trying to lose weight and had exercised in the past month.
In addition to having the highest rates of high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, participants who were categorized with
Doane et al acknowledged that individuals with BDI have an increased risk of obesity compared with the general population, which may be due to genetic, lifestyle, and treatment-related factors (ie, weight liability of medications used to treat BDI).
“[The] study results highlight important clinical, humanistic, and economic burdens associated with obesity in adults living with BD-I,” the researchers concluded. “These outcomes are important to consider in terms of a holistic treatment approach.”
Do you have tips for your colleagues on how to address obesity in patients with BDI? Share your success stories—or challenges—with us at PTEditor@mjhlifesciences.com.
Reference
1. Doane MJ, Thompson J, Jauregui A, et al. Humanistic outcomes associated with obesity among adults with bipolar I disorder: analysis of National Health and Wellness Survey Data. Supported by Alkermes, Inc. Poster presented at: 2022 NEI Congress. November 2022; Colorado.
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