This Saturday, March 30, 2019 is World Bipolar Disorder Day. The opportunity to take stock of these mood disorders which are characterized by an alternation of depressive phases and phases of exaltation (known as “manic”).
In France, 650,000 to 1.6 million people suffer from bipolar disorder; 25% to 60% will make at least one suicide attempt in their lifetime.
According to an Odoxa survey carried out for the FondaMental Foundation, the Argos 2001 association and the College of General Medicine (among 1,000 French people and 154 doctors), bipolar disorders are rather well known by the general public since 94% of French people know (at least less name) the disease – 35% are even able to describe it.
On the other hand, 79% of French people and 68% of general practitioners are unaware that there is a link between bipolar disorders and… cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in bipolar patients
“Within the FondaMental Foundation, we have shown that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is twice as high in patients [souffrant de troubles bipolaires] than in the general population. These metabolic abnormalities (diabetes, blood sugar, hypertension, etc.) predispose to cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death for our patients,” explains Marion Leboyer, director of the FondaMental Foundation.
In consultation, faced with a patient suffering from bipolar disorders, 86% of general practitioners declare that they first focus their attention on compliance with treatment. Then, they worry about the risk of suicide, the clinical elements reported by the relatives and finally, the adverse effects of the treatments. Only 14% of them are interested in monitoring metabolic constants (glycaemia, blood pressure, etc.).
“These results corroborate a study conducted by the FondationFondaMental according to which 2/3 of bipolar patients do not benefit from specific care for their weight gain, their hypertension (…) even though they are risk factors cardio-metabolic pathologies. This should alert us! concludes Ophelia Godin, epidemiologist at the FondaMental Foundation.
Source: FondaMental Foundation press release, Argos 2001 and College of General Medicine.
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