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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 39665085 DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S487309

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Mass Index as Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome in Schoolchildren (PACH Study).

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 17:4675-4687

Authors: Jelena Raudeniece, Ilze Justamente, Liga Ozolina-Moll, Artjoms Sobolevs, Maksims Zolovs, Flemming Dela, Dace Reihmane

Affiliations

  • Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
  • Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia.
  • Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia.
  • Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia. Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia. Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia.
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia.
  • Statistics Unit, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia.
  • Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Department of Biosystematics, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia.
  • Xlab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract

Purpose

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a condition not rarely diagnosed in children and adolescents, leading to changes in physical and mental health. Simple and cost-effective screening methods applied in schools are needed to take preventive measures and reduce the risk of the development of MetS in children.

Methods

This prospective longitudinal study aims to investigate the prevalence of MetS and its risk factors in 8-10-year-old schoolchildren (46 boys and 60 girls) over 3 consecutive years. General Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) was used to assess the effect of recommended daily levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and obesity level on a new set of orthogonal variables formed from various parameters of MetS (eg blood pressure (BP), lipid panel and glucose homeostasis) determined by Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

Results

The prevalence of MetS was 2% in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, while in 2020 prevalence reached 7.7%. The most prevalent combination of criteria defining MetS syndrome in children was increased WC, BP, and blood triglycerides (TG). PCA identified non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol (TCHOL) as important predictors of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Additionally, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) were found to significantly influence the variance in MetS criteria. However, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) did not have a notable effect on the variance of these criteria.

Conclusion

The prevalence of MetS in children is increasing with age. Non-HDL turned out to be the most influential parameter across all principal components. The CRF, being accessible, simple to use, non-invasive and cost-effective, proved to be a superior predictor of variance of glucose homeostasis compared to BMI.

MeSH

Exercise, Body Mass Index, Blood, Homeostasis, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Lipoproteins, Pupil, Prevalence, Metabolic Syndrome, Child