Predicting Weight Gain With Antipsychotic Medication

Researchers delve into predictors of significant weight gain in pediatric patients on second-generation antipsychotics.

Development and predictors of clinically significant weight gain among pediatric patients prescribed second-generation antipsychotic medications have been investigated by researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy ().

The use of SGAs in pediatric patients has seen a notable increase over time, used to treat various psychiatric conditions, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and disruptive behavior disorders such as conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

Over 10% of Pediatric Ambulance Runs for Mental Health Emergencies
Kids with developmental, communication, or physical disabilities faced triple the chances of being restrained compared to those without such disabilities.

‘Did You Know? Antipsychotic medications are among the top-selling pharmaceutical drugs globally, with sales exceeding tens of billions of dollars annually. #pediatric #weightgain #antipsychotics ’

While the SGAs have fewer side effects and increased performance than their first-generation counterparts, they do cause weight gain in 60% of children and adolescent patients taking them.

“Our research indicates that preventing clinically significant weight gain may be possible,” said graduate researcher Ning Lyu in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.

“Using patient's characteristics at the initiation of SGA treatment could help clinicians in prescribing to certain patients.”

Unveiling Weight Gain Patterns

Lyu works under the supervision of Hua Chen, professor and assistant department chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy at the UH College of Pharmacy.

Underutilization of Antiviral Treatment in Pediatric Influenza Cases
Low antiviral use in young kids, echoing recent evidence of suboptimal treatment in high-risk children, stated study.

Lyu examined the records of over 16,000 pediatric patients aged 5 -19 from 2016 to 2021 and identified four distinctive weight-gain trajectories (1) Rapid (2) Gradual (3) Transit and (4) None.

Factors associated with a higher likelihood of having rapid or gradual CSWG versus nonsignificant weight gain were being younger (5–11 vs. 12–17), male, non-Hispanic white, with lower baseline body mass index scores.

Gut Microbiome Diversity Boosts Survival in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplants
Pioneering research reveals correlation between intestinal tract microbiota diversity and survival in kids who have received a donor stem cell transplant.

“There may be different trajectories of weight gain, such as those gaining a modest degree of weight gradually, relative to those gaining a lot of weight rapidly. Children and adolescents in such differing trajectories may be different, clinically, and so might require different responses to address CSWG,” said Lyu.

“We also noted a range of demographic, clinical, and provider characteristics that distinguish between trajectory group membership.”

Is There a Link Between Pediatric Hepatitis and Common Childhood Viruses?
In kids the clusters of acute severe hepatitis are diminished, but researchers stress parents to pay attention to children’s personal hygiene to keep the liver disease away.

“This insight highlights the importance of personalized monitoring and timely intervention strategies for at-risk individuals who experienced persistent CSWG in real practice,” said Chen.

Reference:

Trajectories and Predictors for the Development of Clinically Significant Weight Gain in Children and Adolescents Prescribed Second-Generation Antipsychotics - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38407930/)

Source-Eurekalert