Abstract

RIVEROS SASAKI, Kaori; ALDERETE PERALTA, Virginia  and  SANCHEZ BERNAL, Susana. Prevalence of Components of Metabolic Syndrome in adolescents in a Public Secondary School. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2012, vol.39, n.1, pp.13-19. ISSN 1683-9803.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) has a low prevalence in adolescents, but its incidence is increasing, suggesting increased health risks. Objective: To determine the prevalence of risk factors for MS and its components in adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional observational and descriptive study in adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. Nutritional status was measured according to WHO guidelines using waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentages.  A survey was conducted to determine family history, physical activity, and eating habits. Also measured were: HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results: We studied 125 adolescents, of whom 69% were female.  The mean age was 16.4 ± 1 years. Of these, 75.8% (n=94) were normal weight, 14% (n=14) overweight, 3.2% (n=4) obese, 0.8% (n=1) undernourished. Some 88% (n=110) had predisposing family history with significant association in females (χ2p=0.00004). The frequency of MS was 0.8% (n=1). The most common component in males was altered BP significantly associated with DBP (X2p=0.003), while in females it was HDL cholesterol. The population, while 1 or more components were found in 32.8% (n=41).  Of those with at least 1 MS component, the most common were hypertension (19.2%: n=24) and low HDL cholesterol (15.2%: n=19). Conclusions: The incidence of MS was minimal. The most common MS components involved altered BP and HDL cholesterol.

Keywords : Metabolic syndrome; adolescents; risk factors; HDL cholesterol; blood pressure.

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