Screening of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents

Abstract

Background. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is perceived as a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of MS in children and adolescents rea-ches 6–39 % depending on the identification criteria. Despite the considerable attention paid to MS in children and adoles-cents, there is no unified agreed consensus on its early screening. Consequently, the purpose of the study was along with the generally accepted criteria evaluate additional markers for MS early screening in children and adolescents. Materials and methods. A cross sectional study was conducted with 155 children aged 9–18 years, which formed 2 groups: a group of children with MS — 90 children with MS on the background of abdominal obesity and a group of children without MS — 65 children with normal body weight. Clinical (antrometric data, blood pressure) and laboratory (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, lipids) parameters were assessed. MS verification was performed according to the recommendations of the IDF Сonsensus (2007). Results. For MS screening in addition to the generally accepted criteria according to IDF Consensus (2007): abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 90th percentile according to age and gender), fasting glucose > 5.6 mmol/l, triglycerides > 1.7 mmol/l, blood pressure > 130/85 mm Hg, the most probable additional markers were es-tablished: neck and hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, body sur-face area > 90th percentile of distribution according to age and sex, fasting insulin > 15.0 mU/l, homeostasis model assessment for insulin ratio (HOMA-IR) > 2.8, total cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/l, LDL-C > 3.25 mmol/l, VLDL-C > 0.78 mmol/l, blood pressure in terms of distribution > 95th percentile, which contributes to its early detection and correction. Conclusions. Expanding the list of MS additional markers for its early screening in the pediatric and adolescent population is relevant and provides a basis for its time-ly correction and prevention.