Cardiovascular risk factors and prevalence of metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents

Background. The group of cardiometabolic risk factors being the basis for the development of atherosclerosis, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Occurring together in one person are called metabolic syndrome (MS). Objectives. To assess the relationship between the individual cardiovascular risk factors and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Material and methods. Group of 325 children (177 female, 148 male) 7, 13, 16 years were enrolled into the study. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipids were taken. Overweight, obesity were assessed according to IOTF criteria. Abdominal obesity, blood pressure were assessed according to Lodz children centile charts. Metabolic syndrome was assessed according to NCEP/ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome. Results. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 6.5% of patients. Among children with obesity there were 44.1%, overweight 19.2%; abdominal obesity 32% (p < 0.001) who met MS criteria. A correlation between cardiovascular risk factors (TG = 150 mg/dl, HDL = 40 mg/dl, SBP = 95c, DBP = 95c (p < 0.001) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome was observed. MS was diagnosed most often in children with TG = 150 mg/dl (0.65 fraction). In the group of HDL-C = 40 mg/dl MS was observed in almost half of patients (the fraction 0.45), every third child with SBP = 95c represented the metabolic syndrome. Every tenth child of LDL-c = 110 mg/dl or blood glucose = 100 mg/dl was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (p > 0.05). Conclusions. The risk of metabolic syndrome increased significantly elevated fasting triglyceride levels. The implementation of preventive measures for early identification of children with lipid disorders should be considered.