Utility of anthropometric indicators to screen for clustered cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents

Abstract

Background Anthropometric indicators are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF), but there is no consensus as to which indicator is the most suitable to screen for clustered CMRF. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of five anthropometric indicators to screen for clustered CMRF in children and adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1139 schoolchildren aged 6–17 years from Northeastern Brazil. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and subscapular (SSF) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. The following CMRF were evaluated: elevated total cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high triglyceride concentration, hyperglycemia and high blood pressure. The participants were categorized into no CMRF, 1 CMRF, 2 CMRF and ≥3 CMRF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the accuracy of the anthropometric indicators in predicting CMRF for age group and sex. Results Poor associations were observed between the anthropometric indicators and 1 CMRF (accuracy of 0.49–0.64). The indicators showed moderate associations with 2 CMRF (accuracy of 0.57–0.75) and ≥3 CMRF (accuracy of 0.59–0.79). In general, TSF exhibited the worst performance in predicting CMRF, followed by WHtR. The highest accuracies were observed for BMI, WC and SSF, with no significant difference between these indicators. Conclusions The routine use of BMI, WC and SSF as epidemiological screening tools for clustered CMRF in childhood and adolescence should be encouraged.

Circunferência da Cintura, uma Medida Simples para a Obesidade Infantil?

“…Com o objetivo de detectar crianças e adolescentes com risco cardiometabólico, sugeriu-se o uso de indicadores antropométricos como ferramentas de triagem epidemiológica, uma vez que são métodos não invasivos, de baixo custo e de fácil aplicação. 5,6 A circunferência da cintura (CC) por exemplo, é um indicador de adiposidade central relacionada a complicações metabólicas da obesidade na população pediátrica. 7,8 Porém, ainda não existem pontos de corte de CC padronizados para classificação de adiposidade abdominal em crianças e adolescentes, o que torna o seu uso limitado.…”

A multivariate multilevel analysis of the risk factors associated with anthropometric indices in Iranian mid-adolescents

“…It also can be easily applied in clinics, laboratories and schools because of its portable, low cost and non-invasive nature [14]. Further, the use of ST as an epidemiological screening tool for cardio metabolic risk factors, a better predictor of high body fatness during adulthood than BMI and a reliable tool in assessing the effect of lifestyle factors in children and adolescent has been reported in earlier reports [15][16][17].…”

A Multivariate Multilevel Analysis of the Risk Factors Associated with Anthropometric Indices in Iranian mid-adolescents

“…Further, the use of ST as an epidemiological screening tool for cardio metabolic risk factors, a better predictor of high body fatness during adulthood than BMI and a reliable tool in assessing the effect of lifestyle factors in children and adolescent has been reported in earlier reports (15)(16)(17).…”

“…Descriptive statistics among individuals by districts are derived from ANOVA tests (p-value < 0.05 was statistical significant), SD standard deviation Abbreviation: TST triceps skinfold thickness, AST abdominal skinfold thickness , SST subscapular skinfold thickness, BMI bodTable 3. associated factors with three anthropometric indices in hierarchical model TST triceps skinfold thickness, AST abdominal skinfold thickness , SST subscapular skinfold thickness, SES status Age groups: group1[14][15][16] years, group2[16][17][18] years and group 3[18][19][20] years *p-value < 0.05…”