Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Published on: September 27, 2024
A Continuous Metabolic Syndrome Score Is Associated with Specific Biomarkers of Inflammation and CVD Risk in
Josune Olza1, Concepción M Aguilera, Mercedes Gil-Campos
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Insights
A continuous metabolic syndrome (MetS) score effectively identifies children at risk for inflammation, endothelial damage, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This score aids in early detection of metabolic dysfunction in prepubertal children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS) poses risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children.
- Early identification of at-risk children is crucial for intervention.
- Current MetS criteria may not fully capture metabolic dysfunction in prepubertal populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a continuous metabolic syndrome (MetS) score in prepubertal children.
- To assess the association of this score with biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial damage, and CVD risk.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 677 prepubertal children (normal-weight, overweight, obese) was studied.
- MetS traits, inflammation markers, endothelial damage markers, and CVD risk factors were measured.
- A continuous MetS score was computed by summing standardized MetS component scores.
Main Results:
- The continuous MetS score correlated significantly with inflammatory markers (e.g., C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha) and endothelial damage markers (e.g., sE-selectin).
- Obese children showed the highest prevalence of MetS (8.7%) by traditional criteria.
- Using the continuous MetS score, significantly more children were identified as at-risk (56.6% in obese, 11.6% in overweight).
Conclusions:
- The continuous MetS score demonstrates significant associations with key risk biomarkers.
- This score supports early identification of children with metabolic dysfunction and elevated CVD risk.
- The continuous MetS score offers a valuable tool for pediatric metabolic health assessment.
Background/Aims:
We aimed to evaluate the use of a continuous metabolic syndrome (MetS) score and to assess the associations of this score with risk biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial damage and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in prepubertal children.
Methods:
A total of 677 prepubertal children (295 obese, 146 overweight, and 236 normal-weight) were recruited. MetS traits, markers of inflammation, endothelial damage and CVD risk were measured, and a continuous MetS score was calculated, consisting of the sum/5 of the standardised scores of the MetS components.
Results:
The continuous MetS score was significantly associated with active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (r = 0.406, p < 0.001), adiponectin (r = -0.212, p < 0.001), resistin (r = 0.263, p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (r = 0.254, p < 0.001), tumour necrosis factor alpha (r = 0.120, p = 0.003), myeloperoxidase (r = 0.188, p < 0.001) and sE-selectin (r = 0.278, p < 0.001). Children in the normal-weight, overweight and obese groups with MetS totalled 0 (0%), 1 (0.7%) and 24 (8.7%), respectively, whereas the at-risk children identified using the continuous MetS score in each group totalled 2 (0.85%), 17 (11.6%) and 167 (56.6%), respectively.
Conclusions:
The association of the continuous MetS score with specific risk biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial damage and CVD supports its use in the early identification of children at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:26Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
01:24Obesity
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...