Factor analysis of cardiovascular risk clustering in pediatric metabolic syndrome: CASPIAN study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the results of factor analysis of coronary artery disease risk factors in a large national representative sample of children, and to compare its results on the variables measured between those with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS).


METHODS
This cross-sectional multicenter population survey was conducted on 4,811 nationally representative school students aged 6-18 years. MetS was defined based on criteria analogous to the Adult Treatment Panel III. Factor analysis by principle components analysis and Varimax rotation was carried out to cluster risk factors.


RESULTS
MetS was present in 14.1% of subjects (n = 678). From the nine variables assessed, factor analysis of the z scores of variables show that in all age groups, three similar factors were loaded: lipids, adiposity, and blood pressure, that accounted for 87.4-90.8% of the variance. Three factors were loaded in those with MetS (cholesterol/TG, metabolic/adiposity, and blood pressure) (65.9% of variance); and four factors (cholesterol, metabolic, adiposity, and blood pressure) were loaded among those without the MetS (75.6% of variance). We did not find a central feature that underlies all three factors among children with the MetS; however, waist circumference was the only variable that was loaded for two factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support a change in the concept of MetS from that of a single entity to one that represents several distinct but intercorrelated entities. An approach to assessing risk clustering from early life, and longitudinal studies that would elucidate how these various risk domains interact over time are needed.
Kelishadi
Roya
R
Preventive Pediatric Cardiology Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. kroya@aap.net <kroya@aap.net>
Ardalan
Gelayol
G
Adeli
Khosrow
K
Motaghian
Molouk
M
Majdzadeh
Reza
R
Mahmood-Arabi
Minoo Sadat
MS
Delavari
Alireza
A
Riazi
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
Namazi
Roshanak
R
Ramezani
Mohammad Arash
MA
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D008055:Lipids