The groups consisted of 63 patients with mental illness taking quetiapine, risperidone, or no antipsychotics. There were 111 males in the control group. Mean thigh and calf arterial compliance among four groups were compared by ANCOVA, adjusting for body mass index and Framingham Risk Score. All patients were also compared to the control group. Compliance was measured with a computerized plethysmography device.
Patients (n = 63) had significantly lower arterial compliance in both thigh and calf than the controls. Arterial compliance in the calf was significantly lower in the subgroups of quetiapine (n = 16) and risperidone (n = 19) treated, and in unmedicated (n = 28) patients than in controls. In the thigh, patients taking either quetiapine or risperidone had significantly lower arterial compliance than controls. These subgroups did not differ from each other in arterial compliance.
The presence of psychiatric diagnoses is associated with reduced arterial compliance. A large study may be required to measure any specific affects of antipsychotics such as quetiapine and risperidone on compliance compared to controls.