Abstract
Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents is becoming a global public health concern. MS tracks into adulthood increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. This study was designed to verify the rate of MS in elementary school students of Birjand, as a representative sample of Iranian children to verify the best preventive measures in this age group. Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on 1425 elementary school children through multiple-cluster sampling in 2013. Height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure of children were measured by standard methods. Blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were also measured after 12 hours fasting. MS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) based on the National Cholesterol Education Program. Data were analyzed by SPSS using t test and chi-square test. Significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of MS was 5.3% which increased with age. 43.5% of the studied cases had one or more components of the MS. The most common components were hypertension, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol and impaired fasting glucose, respectively. MS prevalence was 0.9% in normal weight, 11.3% in overweight and 36.2% in obese children. Conclusion: Regarding the high prevalence of MS in elementary school children in our region, screening for obesity is recommended to prevent adulthood complications. Therapeutic lifestyle changes and maintenance of regular physical activity are the most important strategies for preventing childhood obesity.
Highlights
Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents is becoming a global public health concern
The parents were demanded to fill out the demographic data questionnaire and sign the informed consent and return them to the school office if they agreed with their kid’s participation in the program; Children with genetic and endocrine disorders, physical condition preventing normal activity, and taking drugs affecting the symptoms of MS were excluded from the study
A significantly higher risk for MS was observed in subjects with a large waist circumference, a body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile and those older than 9 years of age
Summary
Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents is becoming a global public health concern. Childhood obesity tracks into adulthood, increasing the risk for conditions like the MS, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypertension and dyslipidemia later in life.[4,5] MSis believed to increases the cardiovascular mortality rate by 2.5-fold and the all-cause mortality rate by 1.5-fold.[6,7] Evaluation of autopsies has shown early atherosclerotic changes in the cardiovascular system in young patients with obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-C.6. By aging of such patients the rate of cardiovascular diseases increase. The risk factors of cardiovascular disease are facing a daily increase all around the globe.10Analysis of 144 studies from different countries in 2010, showed that 43 millions
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