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Published on: July 29, 2020
Tracking of cardiometabolic risk in a Brazilian schoolchildren cohort: a 3-year longitudinal study
João F Silveira1, Cézane P Reuter2,3, Letícia Welser1
1University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC), Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil.
Insights
Children with poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and high adiposity at baseline face a significantly higher risk of remaining in a high cardiometabolic risk group three years later. Early interventions targeting these factors are crucial for long-term health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
- Longitudinal Studies
Background:
- Clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors indicates poor health outcomes.
- Tracking, or stability over time, of these factors is key for early intervention.
- Understanding tracking patterns in children is vital for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the tracking of cardiometabolic risk factors and a clustered risk score in children over three years.
- To determine the likelihood of remaining at high risk based on initial measurements.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 354 children (7-12 years old at baseline).
- Calculation of a clustered cardiometabolic risk score using various parameters (blood pressure, waist circumference, triglycerides, glucose, TC/HDL-C ratio).
- Inclusion of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in a secondary clustered score analysis.
Main Results:
- High tracking observed for CRF and anthropometric parameters (r≥0.662).
- Low-to-moderate tracking for individual cardiometabolic parameters (0.100≤r≤0.571).
- Moderate tracking for clustered scores (r≥0.508, r≥0.588 with CRF).
- Children with higher baseline risk had 3.81-4.64 times greater odds of remaining at risk after three years.
- Poor CRF or anthropometrics at baseline increased the odds of being at risk by at least 4.00 times.
Conclusions:
- Worse cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity in children predict a higher clustered cardiometabolic risk score three years later.
- These findings highlight the importance of early assessment and intervention for pediatric cardiometabolic health.
Background:
Clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors is a sign of detrimental health. Tracking is a term used to describe a variable longitudinal stability across time. High tracking provides the chance to determine which cardiometabolic risk factors should be the target of early treatment and prevention efforts. The present study aims to analyze the tracking of cardiometabolic risk factors and clustered cardiometabolic risk score in children across a 3-year time span, and to verify the odds of staying at risk (measured by the clustered score) from baseline to follow-up.
Methods:
Longitudinal study that included 354 (155 boys) children, aged 7-12 years at baseline. A clustered score was calculated by summing the systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, triglycerides, glucose, and the TC/HDL-C ratio Z-scores divided by five. A second clustered score was calculated including cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).
Results:
CRF and anthropometric parameters presented high tracking (r≥0.662), whereas the cardiometabolic parameters exhibited low-to-moderate tracking (0.100≤r≤0.571). The clustered scores' tracking was moderate (r≥0.508; r≥0.588 [CRF]). Participants in the higher risk groups at baseline presented 3.81 (95% CI: 2.40; 6.05) and 4.64 (95% CI: 2.85; 7.56), including CRF, times higher chance of remaining at risk three years later. Moreover, participants in the worst profile regarding CRF or anthropometrics at baseline presented at least 4.00 times higher chance of being at risk three years later.
Conclusions:
Participants with worst CRF and adiposity had an increased risk of presenting higher clustered risk after three years.
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