Marketta Dalla Valle1,2, Tiina Laatikainen3,4,5, Tomi Kalliokoski6, Päivi Nykänen7, Jarmo Jääskeläinen2,8. 1. a Department of Pediatrics , North Karelia Central Hospital , Joensuu , Finland ; 2. b Department of Pediatrics , University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland ; 3. c Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland ; 4. d Health Department , National Institute for Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland ; 5. e North Karelia Hospital District , Joensuu , Finland ; 6. f School of Medicine , University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland ; 7. g Department of Pediatrics , Mikkeli Central Hospital , Mikkeli , Finland ; 8. h Department of Pediatrics , Kuopio University Hospital , Kuopio , Finland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: One in three obese adults is classified as metabolically healthy, but there is less evidence in obese children. We studied the overall clinical presentation of Finnish obese children and the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors with child-specific cut-offs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional register-based study of 2-18-year-old children (n = 900) evaluated for obesity in three hospitals in 2005-2012. Clinical and metabolic data were related to sex, age, puberty, and obesity grade and analyzed using chi-square and non-parametric tests. RESULTS: In 80% of cases at least one cardiovascular risk factor was present. Only 3% of subjects for whom complete metabolic data were available (n = 360) had no metabolic disorder. Systolic blood pressure was hypertensive in 50.2% and diastolic in 14.5% of the children. The youngest children had highest body mass index SD score. Obesity was more severe in boys than girls (p < 0.001). Hypertensive systolic blood pressure values (p = 0.012), prediabetes (p < 0.001), fatty liver (p < 0.001), and dyslipidemia (p = 0.025) were more prevalent in 15-18-year-old boys than girls. CONCLUSION: Most obese children in specialist care have cardiovascular risk factors; this indicates that earlier intervention is needed.
INTRODUCTION: One in three obese adults is classified as metabolically healthy, but there is less evidence in obesechildren. We studied the overall clinical presentation of Finnish obesechildren and the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors with child-specific cut-offs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional register-based study of 2-18-year-old children (n = 900) evaluated for obesity in three hospitals in 2005-2012. Clinical and metabolic data were related to sex, age, puberty, and obesity grade and analyzed using chi-square and non-parametric tests. RESULTS: In 80% of cases at least one cardiovascular risk factor was present. Only 3% of subjects for whom complete metabolic data were available (n = 360) had no metabolic disorder. Systolic blood pressure was hypertensive in 50.2% and diastolic in 14.5% of the children. The youngest children had highest body mass index SD score. Obesity was more severe in boys than girls (p < 0.001). Hypertensive systolic blood pressure values (p = 0.012), prediabetes (p < 0.001), fatty liver (p < 0.001), and dyslipidemia (p = 0.025) were more prevalent in 15-18-year-old boys than girls. CONCLUSION: Most obesechildren in specialist care have cardiovascular risk factors; this indicates that earlier intervention is needed.
Authors: Marketta Dalla Valle; Tiina Laatikainen; Hanna Potinkara; Päivi Nykänen; Jarmo Jääskeläinen Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2018-10-02 Impact factor: 5.555