Screening for metabolic syndrome in mental health consumers using an electronic metabolic monitoring form

Metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in people with serious mental illness, compared to the general population. The main purpose of this study was to determine the extent electronic metabolic monitoring forms were being completed in a regional mental health service and the extent to which diagnoses of metabolic syndrome could be made using the data available. A retrospective file audit of 721 electronic mental health consumer records was undertaken. Metabolic monitoring data were recorded for 261 (36%) consumers, of which 57 (21.8%) met the clinical criteria for metabolic syndrome, 61 (23.4%) did not meet clinical criteria, and diagnoses could not be made for 143 (54.8%) consumers due to missing data. The limited use of electronic health records may inhibit the detection of risk factors for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.