Prevalence of and trends in metabolic syndrome and associated cardiovascular risk factors among US adolescents between 1999 and 2008

Abstract

Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the prevalence of and trends in MetS and its associated CVD risk factors in a nationally-representative sample of adolescents in the USA between 1999 and 2008. Methods Eleven thousand and twenty four adolescents aged between 10 and 18 years (49% girls, 15% African–American, 17% Hispanic) were included from five 2-year survey periods of the cross-sectional 1999–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined the prevalence of MetS according to a modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition, requiring three or more of the following criteria to be fulfilled: abdominal obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, elevated blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose levels. Trends across the survey period were compared with regard to sex, age, and ethnic strata. Results Although the overall prevalence of MetS was 3.8% in 2007–2008, only a slight increase from 3.5% in 1999–2000, the prevalence of MetS increased markedly among Hispanics (from 3.5 to 7.6%, P<0.001) during this time period, with no appreciable increase noted among whites nor blacks. In 2007–2008, the overall prevalence of MetS was similar among male (3.9%) and female (3.6%) patients; however, it was higher among those aged between 14 and 18 (5.1%) compared with those aged between 10 and 13 years (1.9%; P<0.01 for difference). Conclusion The increased prevalence of MetS, particularly among Hispanic adolescents, indicates an urgent need to develop further policies at the community and individual levels to address MetS and its associated CVD risk factors.