Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Guatemalan School Children

Abstract

Objectives Guatemala is experiencing a nutritional and lifestyle transition. While chronic malnutrition is prevalent, overweight, obesity and chronic diseases have increased substantially in the country. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the associated cardiovascular risk factors in the pre-adolescent Guatemalan population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 Guatemalan children (8–13 years old) attending public and private schools in the Municipality of Chimaltenango. Demographic data and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were collected. A blood sample was taken after an 8-hour overnight fast and analyzed for glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The data were analyzed to identify factors associated with metabolic syndrome and with its components. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the study population was 2.0%. However, approximately 54% of the children had at least one component of metabolic syndrome, while none had four or five of the components. The three most prevalent risk factors were high triglycerides (43.4%), low HDL cholesterol (17.2%) and obesity (12.3%). Boys were more likely to be obese than girls and rural children were more likely to have higher triglyceride levels than urban children. Conclusions Although the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is low, the fact that majority of the children already have at least one component of metabolic syndrome is cause for concern since components of metabolic syndrome can continue into adulthood and increase the risk for chronic diseases later in life. Therefore, immediate action should be taken to address the problem.

Prevalencia De Síndrome Metabólico en Niños Y Adolescentes De América

“…Los datos reportados son el resultado del análisis de 23 artículos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, y que corresponden a 12 países de América: Argentina [15][16][17][18] , Brasil 19 , Canadá [20][21] , Chile [22][23][24] , Colombia [25][26][27] , Ecuador 28 , Estados Unidos de América (EUA) 29 , Guatemala 30 , México [31][32][33][34] , Paraguay 35 , Perú 36 y Venezuela 37 . Del total de estudios analizados, solamente 21 trabajos mostraron prevalencias generales de obesidad abdominal, 18 de ellos tuvieron prevalencias de hiperglucemia, otros 18 indicaron las prevalencias de hipertrigliceridemia, 19 las prevalencias de hipoalfalipoproteinemia (HDL-C bajo), 20 más midieron prevalencias de hipertensión arterial, y 18 analizaron prevalencias del SM.…”

Frequência de síndrome metabólica em crianças e adolescentes de escolas públicas de Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brasil, conforme três critérios diagnósticos internacionais

“…Among schoolchildren and adolescents from Mérida (Mexico) aged 9-18 years, the prevalence of MetS was 2.2% and 1.8% according to the percentiles obtained by Cook-Merida and Cook-USA, respectively [29]. In Guatemalan children (aged 8-13 years) from public and private schools, the MetS prevalence was 2.0% with no significant difference between boys and girls [30]. When compared to other Brazilian studies, the present results are well below those found in the literature, as in the study of 12-to 19-year-old schoolchildren from public schools in Niteroi, State of Rio de Janeiro, where the prevalence of MetS was 13.8% and 2.4% for boys and girls, respectively [15].…”

Indicadores antropométricos, metabólicos e hemodinâmicos como preditores da síndrome metabólica em adolescentes

“…Em um estudo desenvolvido na Guatemala, com 302 crianças/adolescentes, constatou-se a prevalência de SM de 2,0%, entretanto, em aproximadamente 54% dos participantes, verificou-se pelo menos um componente da SM (25) . Já em um estudo desenvolvido na Coreia, com 1554 adolescentes de 10 a 19 anos, constatou-se a prevalência de SM de 2,3% na amostra total, de 2,8% em adolescentes com sobrepeso e de 23,7% em adolescentes obesos (26) .…”