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Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter March 7, 2015

Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors in obese children and adolescents: a hierarchical approach

Irine-Ikbale Sakou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Theodoros N. Sergentanis, Kyriaki Karavanaki, Feneli Karachaliou, Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos, Stamatios Tzanninis, Triantafyllia Sdogou, Donald Greydanus and Artemis Tsitsika

Abstract

Background: This study aims to globally assess the network of insulin resistance (IR)-related factors in a sample of overweight and obese Greek youths.

Methods: A total of 185 subjects were examined, and IR was quantified by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Multivariate hierarchical approach was performed, and five distinct levels were recognized, namely, immutable demographic features and early life parameters, current anthropometric measures, IR, unfavorable clinical conditions, and social parameters. Two analyses were performed based on HOMA-IR cut-off values (3.16 and, as an alternative, 3.99).

Results: Obesity was associated with IR (adjusted OR=3.19, 95% CI: 1.12–9.09). IR steadily predicted low HDL (adjusted OR=5.75, 95% CI: 1.58–20.87), hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted OR=10.28, 95% CI: 1.18–89.55), and systolic hypertension. At the alternative analysis, IR was also associated with older age, older age at menarche, hyperuricemia, and low school grades.

Conclusion: Emerging on the grounds of obesity, IR confers risks for dyslipidemia and hypertension at a relatively early age. Along with weight loss, interventions targeted at IR are required to prevent cardiometabolic risk in adolescence.


Corresponding author: Irine-Ikbale Sakou, Adolescent Health Unit (AHU), University of Athens, Second Department of Pediatrics, “P&A Kyriakou”, Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece, Phone: (0030) 210-7710824, Fax: (0030) 210-7710824, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ms. Eleni C. Tzavela for final editing.

Conflict of interest statement: None declared.

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Supplemental Material

The online version of this article (DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2014-0431) offers supplementary material, available to authorized users.

Received: 2014-10-13
Accepted: 2015-1-21
Published Online: 2015-3-7
Published in Print: 2015-5-1

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