Objective  To detect the levels of bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical indexes in schizophrenic patients with different gender, and to explore the gender difference and related influencing factors of abnormal bone metabolism.

  Methods  A total of 179 patients with schizophrenia were selected, including 89 males and 90 females. The value of lumbar BMD was measured by quantitative CT (QCT), and the levels of blood calcium, blood phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone were detected as well.

  Results  There were no significant differences in age, years of education, body mass index, course of disease, drug dose and total score of Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) between male and female schizophrenic patients in different age groups (P>0.05). The BMD values of male and female schizophrenic patients were significantly lower than those of the matched male and female healthy controls (P < 0.05). In the age group of 51 to 60 years old, the BMD values of female schizophrenic patients were significantly lower than that of male schizophrenic patients (P=0.032). Compared with male schizophrenic patients, female schizophrenic patients had significant lower blood calcium level and higher parathyroid hormone level (P < 0.05). In male schizophrenic patients, the body mass index and drug dose were significantly correlated with BMD (P=0.002, 0.043), while the age, course of disease and drug dose in female schizophrenic patients were significantly correlated with BMD (P=0.005, 0.032, 0.049).

  Conclusion  There are differences in BMD value and influencing factors between schizophrenic patients with different gender, and different intervention measures should be taken to improve BMD.