Clinical and metabolic alterations and insulin resistance among adolescents

Abstract

Objective: Analyzing the clinical and metabolic alterations and their relation to insulin resistance among adolescents. Methods: Analytic study, carried out with 357 adolescents of state public schools in a municipality in Northeastern Brazil. The applied form contained the variables Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Neck Circumference, Taper Index, Average Blood Pressure, Triglycerides, Blood Sugar Level, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Insulin, and Homeostasis Model Assessment Index, analyzed through descriptive measures for quantitative variables; and through frequency for qualitative variables. Association tests were made through Chi-Square test and through Odds Ratio. Results: Prevalence of insulin resistance was 33.9%. The average values of waist circumference, neck circumference, taper index, average systolic blood pressure and average diastolic blood pressure were high in, respectively, 4.2%, 30%, 10.9%, 4.2% and 14% of adolescents. High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol levels were decreased in 30.5% of the sample, whereas triglycerides were high in 18.8%. No blood sugar alteration was identified. Those who presented altered values for body mass index, waist circumference, neck circumference, taper index, and triglycerides had higher chances to present insulin resistance (OD: 3.62, 11.54, 3.50, 4.49, 3.05, respectively). On the other hand, adolescents with altered average systolic blood pressure, average diastolic blood pressure and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol did not present statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusion: Insulin resistance is present among adolescents, with positive and significant association to clinical and metabolic alterations.