To evaluate the 12-months prospective evolution of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with types I or II Bipolar Disorder (BD) in Spain.

The BIMET study is a 12-month, prospective, multicentre, naturalistic study which enrolled patients with type I or II BD according to DSM-IV TR criteria. Fasting blood levels of glucose, total, HDL, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides as well as weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure were recorded. The National Cholesterol Educational Program (NCEP)-ATP III definition was applied to consider presence of metabolic syndrome (MS).

A total of 524 patients were enrolled; 73% type I and 27% type II. 61.9% women, mean age 46.3 years. 28.4% of subjects work regularly. Smokers were 42.2%, 15.1% had a substance abuse history, 34.2% were obese according with WHO criteria (obesity class I; 23.2%, class II; 7.5%, and class III; 3.5%) and overweight was found in 37.4% of sample. Prevalence of diabetes was 7.3%, hypertension was present in 24.7%, 18.5% had cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL and 36.2% had triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL. Overall prevalence of MS was 27.0% (95% CI: 22.7%-31.3%), with 27.3% (22.2%-32.3%) in type I BD and 27.1% (19.0%-36.6%) in type II (p=0.973).

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in type I / II BD patients was considerably higher than in the general population. As an excess of mortality due to metabolic and cardiovascular reasons pointed out in these patients, it is recommended a close clinical monitoring of such parameters in the routine medical practice.