Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and metabolic syndrome in obese Kuwaiti adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundChildhood and adolescent obesity is associated with insulin resistance, abnormal glucose metabolism, hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammation, liver disease, and compromised vascular function. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factor abnormalities and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a sample of obese Kuwaiti adolescents, as prevalence data might be helpful in improving engagement with obesity treatment in future.MethodsEighty obese Kuwaiti adolescents (40 males) with a mean (standard deviation) age of 12.3 years (1.1 years) participated in the present study. All participants had a detailed clinical examination and anthropometry, blood pressure taken, and assessment of fasting levels of C-reactive protein, intracellular adhesion molecule, interleukin-6, fasting blood glucose, insulin, liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase), lipid profile (cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides), insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment, and adiponectin. MetS was assessed using two recognized criteria modified for use in younger individuals.ResultsThe cardiometabolic risk factors with highest prevalence of abnormal values included aspartate aminotransferase (88.7% of the sample) and insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment (67.5%), intracellular adhesion molecule (66.5%), fasting insulin (43.5%), C-reactive protein (42.5%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (35.0%), total cholesterol (33.5%), and systolic blood pressure (30.0%). Of all participants, 96.3% (77/80) had at least one impaired cardiometabolic risk factor as well as obesity. Prevalence of MetS was 21.3% according to the International Diabetes Federation definition and 30% using the Third Adult Treatment Panel definition.ConclusionThe present study suggests that obese Kuwaiti adolescents have multiple cardiometabolic risk factor abnormalities. Future studies are needed to test the benefits of intervention in this high-risk group. They also suggest that prevention of obesity in children and adults should be a major public health goal in Kuwait.

Relationship of Cardiac Structures and Functions with Adiponectin, C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 Levels in Obese Children

“…While the obese Copyright © JCEI / Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations 2016 | www.jceionline.org subjects in this study had higher very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglycerides (TG), and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels than the control subjects, no difference was observed in the total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values. A strong correlation with insulin resistance of dyslipidemias, especially high TG or low HDL levels, has also been reported in published studies [9].…”

“…Insulin resistance is recognized as an important risk factor for DM (9). HOMA-IR is often used to evaluate the level of insulin resistance [6].…”

Adiponectin, Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Paediatric Obese Patients: Impact of Interventional Studies

“…After puberty, and possibly through a mechanism involving sexual hormones, adiponectin decreases with age in both genders, more markedly in boys [72,130]. Several studies have reported similar adiponectin levels for both genders, even in OB paediatric populations involving post-pubertal subjects [10,29,61,111,131].…”

Habitual Sleep Duration and Risk of Childhood Obesity: Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

“…A number of epidemiological studies have suggested that childhood obesity is an independent risk factor of chronic diseases later in life 1 2 3 4 . Thus, identifying modifiable risk factors of obesity in childhood is of great public health significance.…”