Effect of Antipsychotic Drugs on the Cardiac Function of Patients with Schizophrenia and Analysis of Echocardiogram Results

Abstract

Objective: To explore and analyze the effect of antipsychotic drug treatment on the cardiac function of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: From January 2021 to December 2022, 30 patients with schizophrenia were divided into three groups, group A (n = 10), group B (n = 10), and group C (n = 10), by random number table. Patients in group A were treated with risperidone, patients in group B were treated with quetiapine, and patients in group C were treated with aripiprazole. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) scores, electrocardiogram results, and echocardiogram results were compared among the three groups. Results: There were no significant differences in PANSS and LOTCA scores among the three groups after treatment (P > 0.05). Electrocardiogram showed that the incidence of prolonged QT interval in group C was higher than that in groups A and B (P < 0.05); echocardiogram showed that the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) in group C were lower than those in group A and group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Risperidone, quetiapine, and aripiprazole can improve the symptoms and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Aripiprazole has a greater impact on cardiac function, as evidenced on electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Therefore, close monitoring must be done to ensure drug safety.