Abstract MP49: Socioeconomic Status and Metabolic Syndrome Components in Prepubescent Colombian Children

Abstract

The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and cardiometabolic risk has been extensively described in developed societies. However, this topic has received little attention in children from developing populations undergoing nutritional transition. Using data from a population-based cross-sectional study of 1,260 children, aged 6-10 y, in Bucaramanga (Colombia), we examined the association between SES and prevalence of metabolic syndrome components (MetS) components. SES was defined according to classification of neighborhood public service fees. High mean blood pressure (≥ 90 th %ile) was determined using sex-, age-, and height-adjusted cut points. For the remaining MetS components we defined internal age- and sex-specific cut points as follows: fasting triglycerides ≥ 90 th %ile; HDL ≤ 10 th %ile; insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥ 90 th %ile; and waist circumference ≥ 90 th %ile. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each MetS component were calculated across SES before ( Model 1 ) and after adjustment for measures of early-life nutrition ( Model 2 ) and lifestyle factors ( Model 3 )( Table ). Colombian children from households in high-SES neighborhoods had higher odds of central obesity and insulin resistance, but lower odds of high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol than their low-SES counterparts ( Table ). ORs for high blood pressure were null. These results suggest that, in low-SES children from nutritionally transitioning populations, blood lipids may emerge as early cardiometabolic risk factors in the absence of central obesity and insulin resistance. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating MetS components individually in prepubescent children. Research is needed to confirm these associations and to understand the cultural and lifestyle factors that may differentiate cardiometabolic risk across SES in children of developing countries.