Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study examined the link between sociodemographic variables, anthropometric indices, and psychiatric disorders among patients in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region (Al-Hassa), as well as health outcomes, including basic hematological and biochemical markers. METHODS: The patients included 89 females and 79 males with psychiatric disorders, with ages ranging from 19 to 59. Sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric proxies, and fundamental hematological and biochemical markers were assessed. RESULTS: The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients were poor and varied within and between sexes. This study observed that male psychiatric patients had greater anthropometric proxies, particularly those who were overweight or obese, than females. Most of the patients' hematological and biochemical parameters were below the normal level, with some higher than normal. Moreover, anemia was identified in 40.51% of the male participants in the study, with a higher percentage among those diagnosed with depressive disorders (Dep-d, 57.14%) and schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (SsP-d, 32.43%), and 49.44% of the female participants, with a higher percentage among those diagnosed with depressive disorders (52.50%) and other psychotic disorders (46.15%). Furthermore, to confirm the link between sociodemographic variables, anthropometric indices, and psychiatric disorders among patients, the Spearman correlation coefficient and simple regression analysis of such variables was carried out. The results revealed that the majority of sociodemographic characteristics were either favorably or adversely correlated with patients' anthropometrics and type of depression in both sexes. CONCLUSION: Low sociodemographic characteristics and high anthropometric variables may be risk factors for people with psychotic disorders, which have been linked to negative health consequences.