Metabolic Monitoring Tool

Welcome to the Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network (EPION) Metabolic Monitoring interactive tool!

This web tool aims to promote metabolic monitoring for people with mental illness. It provides a structured way to screen and begin metabolic interventions and defines the roles of members of the mental health and primary care teams.

Who can use this interactive web tool?

Community- and hospital-based psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, family physicians, and frontline mental health specialists working with people living with psychosis and families. Clients are also encouraged to use this web tool to track their own metabolic risk factors and set related healthy lifestyle goals.

Who designed this tool?

The EPION Metabolic Monitoring Working Group developed this web tool based on its own metabolic monitoring resources, including the Cardiometabolic Risk Management tool,* which was revised according to Canadian guidelines by EPION and its partners. The partners include the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, with thanks to the On Track First Episode Psychosis Program for their collaboration.

*Adapted for use by the EPION Metabolic Monitoring Working Group, with permission from Curtis, J., Newall, H., Samaras, K. © HETI 2011; Shiers, D et al.

The original versions of the resources used to develop this interactive web tool are available for download here.

How to use this tool?

The interactive web tool does not collect any personal health information. Once you have entered all the necessary information, you can print a copy or save it to your computer.

This interactive web tool allows clients and clinicians to monitor the following:

  • measurements (waist, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI).
  • medications and current side effects
  • lifestyle (smoking, alcohol use, exercise)
  • sleep
  • nutrition.

As you enter the information, a “danger zone” pop-up will appear if there are any areas of concern. This pop-up will include suggestions for healthy target zones, and you can also include healthy lifestyle goals that you want to achieve.

The healthy lifestyle goals will also appear at the bottom of the web tool so that you can create additional goals. You will also be able to add reminders to your calendar so you can visit the tool again in the future to continue monitoring and following up on your goals.

How do I use EPION’s metabolic monitoring resources?

Three short instructional videos on how clinicians can use the original versions of resources used to develop this tool, are available here:

  • An overview of the suite of tools:

  • Using the EPION Metabolic Syndrome Screening Tool:

Begin Risk Assessment → Skip to Risk Factors

Risk Assessment


Before you begin, please let us know if you are completing this assessment as a client or a clinician on behalf of a client.




Begin the cardiometabolic risk assessment here. Please go through each of the sections and complete to the best of your knowledge. If there is information you don’t have, you can start a follow-up list so you can that you can use the next time you see a member of you care team.

Remember, for each section, you can also include healthy lifestyle goals and add personal calendar reminders to follow up! The goals you add in this section will be automatically populated on the next page that focuses on your goals, after you complete this part of the assessment.

If you refresh the page or leave and come back, all the information you have included here will reset and you will have to enter it again. This is to protect your privacy.

Danger Zone

For all patients in the Danger Zone:

The primary care provider and psychiatrist will work together to ensure appropriate monitoring and interventions are provided and communicated to avoid over or under monitoring. The primary care provider will usually lead on supervising the provision of physical health interventions. The psychiatrist will usually lead on decisions to significantly change antipsychotic medicines.

Measurements

How to measure your waist

Waist circumference is measured 2-3 inches above the belly button.

How to determine your blood pressure

The most accurate way to determine your blood pressure is to a visit your care team so they can use a blood pressure cuff. Automatic blood pressure machines are also available at most pharmacies and grocery stores for free testing.

How to determine your Blood Sugar

This is a blood test ordered by your GP or psychiatrist

How to determine your HDL-Cholesterol

This is a blood test ordered by your GP or psychiatrist.

How to determine your triglycerides (TG)

This is a blood test ordered by your GP or psychiatrist.

Medications

Clear Medication
Add Medication

Lifestyle

How to track your steps

There are relatively inexpensive step counters available or you can simply track the amount of time you walk or exercise with the goal of starting at 30 minutes per day.

Sleep

Nutrition

Continue to Goals → View Other Risk Factors Clear all fields

Other Risk Factors


Smoking

  • Smoking cessation counselling and pharmatherapy
  • Monitor changes in mental status/medication efficacy and side-effects (e.g. olanzapine and clozapine).
  • Nicotine Dependence Clinic
Target

Diet

  • Eliminate sugary drinks & processed snack foods
  • Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, & bre
  • 3 meals/day including breakfast, refer to dietitian if available.
  • UnlockFood.ca
Target

Activity

Target

Weight

  • Monitor for: Weight Gain
  • Walking is safe; aim for 10,000 steps/day.
  • Progress as appropriate to moderate (sweating, able to talk) to vigorous (increased sweating, difficulty talking) activity
  • Consider medical clearance for those at risk
  • csep.ca
Target

Blood Pressure

Target

Glucose

Pre-diabetes:
  • Increased frequency of glucose monitoring
  • Consider metformin
Diabetes:
Target

Lipids

Target

Metabolic Syndrome

Treat individual factors using relevant guidelines

Target
  • Treat to individual body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, and lipid targets
  • Global CV Risk Management

Continue to Goals →

Goals

The interactive web tool allows you to set healthy lifestyle goals or any other goals you’d like to focus on. These don’t have to be big goals – small steps can also be effective! Just enter your goal, as well as where, how and what you need to do to achieve it. List all the people who can help you achieve this goal, and the milestones you can use to find out if you’re reaching your goal.

You can also include the start date and your confidence level, and add personal calendar reminders so you can come back to the web tool to monitor your progress.

My Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Clear Goal

Goals Summary

    Add Goal Print

    Continue to Follow-up → Clear all fields

    Follow-up

    This section allows you to create a follow-up list, including questions you may have for your care team about metabolic monitoring, or items in this assessment that they can help your complete. You can print out this list and bring it to your next appointment with your care team.

    Print

    Did You Find This Useful?

    Let us know what you think of this interactive web tool by clicking either thumbs up or thumbs down. Once you click on either option, the data will be collected.


    Please also give us your feedback and suggestions on what we can do to make this tool more useful for you, or let us know if you have any questions. Your feedback will be send to info@epion.ca. Thanks!

    For more information about EPION, visit: help4psychosis.ca or contact info@epion.ca.

    Downloads

    Download the Risk Management Postcard
    Risk Management Postcard PDF

    Download
    Download Metabolic Risk Factors
    Metabolic Risk Factors PDF

    Download
    Download Cardiometabolic Risk Management
    Cardiometabolic Risk Management PDF

    Download
    Download Goals
    My Healthy Lifestyle Changes PDF

    Download

    Metabolic Syndrome Screening Tool

    Download the Risk Management Postcard
    Metabolic Syndrome Screening Tool PDF

    Download

    Monitoring: How Often and What to Do

    Applies to patients prescribed antipsychotics and metabolically active mood stabilizers and antidepressants.

    Frequency: As a minimum review those prescribed a new agent at baseline and at least once after 3 months. Weight should be assessed monthly in the first 3 months of taking a new antipsychotic as rapid early weight gain may predict severe weight gain in the longer term. Subsequent review should take place annually unless an abnormality of physical health emerges, which should then prompt appropriate action and/or continuing review at least every 3 months.

    History: Ask about family history (diabetes, obesity, CVD in first degree relatives <60 yrs), gestational diabetes. Note ethnicity.

    Add to Calendar

    Baseline 4 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks Quarterly Annually
    Personal/FHx X X
    Lifestyle Review1 X X X X X X
    Weight/WC/ X X X X X X
    BP X X X
    FPG/HbA1C X X X
    Lipid Profile 2 X X X

    1 Smoking, diet, and physical activity. 2 If fasting lipid profile cannot be obtained, a non-fasting sample is satisfactory

    Derived from consensus guidelines 2004, j clin. psych 65:2

    Information for GPs

    Investigations: Fasting estimates of plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and lipids (total cholesterol, non-HDL, HDL, triglycerides). If fasting samples are impractical, then non-fasting samples are satisfactory for most measurements except for LDL and triglycerides.

    Review of Antipsychotic Medication

    Choose lower metabolic liability medication first-line when possible. Response in first episode psychosis is robust independent of agent.

    Changing or discontinuing antipsychotic requires careful clinical judgment, balancing metabolic benefits against relapse risk. Ideally psychiatrist supervised. Should be a priority if there is:

    • Rapid weight gain (e.g. 5kg <3 months) following antipsychotic initiation.
    • Rapid development (<3 months) of abnormal lipids, BP, or glucose.

    The psychiatrist should consider whether the antipsychotic drug regimen has played a causative role in these abnormalities and, if so, whether an alternative regimen could be expected to offer less adverse effect:

    If clinical judgment and patient preference support continuing with the same treatment then ensure appropriate further monitoring and clinical considerations. Avoid antipsychotic polypharmacy when possible; Avoid off-label use of antipsychotics.

    Specific Adjunctive Pharmalogical Interventions

    For mitigation of excess weight gain associated with antipsychotic use, the strongest evidence is for off-label use of Metformin and Topiramate (Mayan, 2010). Consider Metformin first due to better tolerability profile unless there is a co-morbid bingeeating disorder (McElroy, SI, 2009). Please be advised that off-label use requires documented informed consent. Discontinue if no sign of efficacy (continuing weight gain if used for weight loss or stabilization) after 3 months at therapeutic dose.

    Metformin:

    Weight Gain & Primary Prevention of Diabetes: Start 250 mg po BID, titrate every 1-2 weeks as clinically indicated and tolerated. Dose range is 750 mg - 2 Gm/day

    Caution with renal or hepatic impairment. Avoid excessive alcohol use. Monitor for GI side effects. Monitor for B12 deficiency.

    Topiramate:

    Weight Gain: Start 12.5 mg po BID; titrate by 25-50 mg per day in divided doses every 1-2 weeks as tolerated to a maximum of 100 mg po BID.

    Caution with renal or hepatic impairment. Avoid excessive alcohol use. Monitor for cognitive changes. Parasthesias are common but generally well-tolerated.