Markers of metabolic syndrome among 14 year old adolescents in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Local data on MetS do not cover the adolescent population. Our study describes clinical and biochemical markers of metabolic syndrome among adolescents in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area. METHOD: Fourteen year old adolescents resident in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area were invited to the study through the public health network. Socio-demographic and anthropometric data of adolescents who presented were collected by trained data collectors. Relevant bio-chemica! assays were conducted in the fasting state. Prevalence of identified markers of the MetS was determined. RESULTS: 508 adolescents participated [263 (51.8%) girls]. The median age at menarche among the girls was 12 years. 46 (18.8%) boys and 55 (20.9%) girls had a BM1 greater than age-sex equivalent of 23 kgrrr2 in adults. 39 (15.9%) boys and 95 (36.1%) girls had a waist circumference above the MetS cut-off for age and sex. 17 (6.9) boys and 16 (6.1%) girls had elevated triglycerides while none had decreased HDL. Two (0.8%) girls had fasting plasma glucose above lOOmg/dl. Eight (3.3%) boys and six (2.3%) girls had elevated blood pressure. One girl was positive for three of the five diagnostic criteria of MetS giving a prevalence of 2 per 1000. Only 190 (77.6%) boys and 159 (60.5%) girls were free of alt five markers of MetS. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that markers of MetS are prevalent in this urban adolescent population. These data provide a basis for planning interventions at community and school level.