Association of Peripheral Inflammatory Indices With Symptom Severity, Functioning, and Metabolic Parameters in the Mexican Population Diagnosed With Schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder characterized by systemic immune activation and significant psychosocial impairment. While peripheral inflammatory indices (PIIs) are cost-effective and accessible markers of systemic inflammation, their relationship with clinical and metabolic parameters remains scarce in the Mexican population. This study aims to evaluate the association between PIIs and symptom severity, functioning, and metabolic parameters in patients with schizophrenia under routine clinical care.

METHODS

The sample comprised 100 clinically stable patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Participants underwent a clinical interview and were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). Laboratory data from the preceding 12 months were used to calculate the following PIIs: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI). Associations were analyzed using Spearman's partial rank correlations, adjusting for body mass index, age, olanzapine equivalents, and smoking status.

RESULTS

No significant correlations were found between PIIs and PANSS, FAST, or CDSS scores. Weak positive correlations were observed between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and SII (rs (98) = 0.242, p = 0.017), AISI (rs (98) = 0.256, p = 0.012), and SIRI (rs (98) = 0.229, p = 0.025). In addition, triglycerides showed weak negative correlations with NLR(rs (98) = -0.246, p = 0.016), MLR (rs (98) = -0.260, p = 0.011), PLR (rs (98) = -0.256, p = 0.012), and SII (rs (98) = -0.219, p = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that in clinically stable patients, PIIs are associated with metabolic impairment, specifically glycemic and triglyceride alterations, rather than with symptom severity or functioning. These indices may serve as accessible immunometabolic indicators in this population.