Childhood predictors of the metabolic syndrome in adulthood. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
BACKGROUND
Obese youths may be susceptible to develop the metabolic syndrome (MS) later in life.


OBJECTIVE
To study childhood predictors of MS in adulthood.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study including 2,195 subjects, aged 3-18 years at base-line in 1980, who were re-examined in 1983, 1986, and 2001.


RESULTS
In adults (aged 24-39 years) in 2001, the prevalence of MS (using the International Diabetes Federation criteria) was 19% in men and 12% in women. Multivariable logistic regression model selected obesity, male sex, high triglycerides, high insulin, high C-reactive protein (CRP), and family history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, as independent predictors of adult MS. Youth obesity (body mass index (BMI)>80th age- and sex-specific percentile) was the strongest risk factor for MS. During the 21-year follow-up, there was an increasing trend in BMI, insulin, systolic blood pressure, and triglycerides, and a decreasing trend in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese subjects who developed MS in adulthood compared to those obese subjects who did not develop MS.


CONCLUSIONS
Youth determinants of adult MS included obesity, high triglycerides, high insulin, high CRP, and family history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Identifying these risk factors at an early stage could help identifying children and adolescence at greater risk of developing MS later in life.
Mattsson
Noora
N
The Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland. noora.mattsson@utu.fi
Rönnemaa
Tapani
T
Juonala
Markus
M
Viikari
Jorma S A
JS
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors