Reevaluation of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an urban area of Turkey

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and related morbidities in overweight and obese children

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and other comorbidities in overweight and obese children in Malatya, Turkey.

METHODS

Retrospective cross-sectional study. We studied 860 obese and overweight children and adolescents (obese children Body mass index (BMI) >95th percentile, overweight children BMI >85th percentile) aged between 6 and 18 years. The diagnosis of MetS, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and T2DM were defined according to modified the World Health Organization criteria adapted for children. Other comorbidities were studied.

RESULTS

Subjects (n=860) consisted of 113 overweight and 747 obese children of whom 434 (50.5%) were girls. MetS was significantly more prevalent in obese than overweight children (43.8 vs. 2.7%, p<0.001), and in pubertal than prepubertal children (41.1 vs. 31.7%, p<0.001). Mean homeostasis model assessment for insulin ratio (HOMA-IR) was 3.6 ± 2.0 in the prepubertal and 4.9 ± 2.4 in pubertal children (p<0.001). All cases underwent oral glucose tolerance test and IGT, IFG, and T2DM were diagnosed in 124 (14.4%), 19 (2.2%), and 32 (3.7%) cases, respectively. Insulin resistance (IR) was present in 606 cases (70.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Puberty and obesity are important risk factors for MetS, T2DM, and IR. The prevalence of MetS, T2DM, and other morbidities was high in the study cohort. Obese children and adolescents should be carefully screened for T2DM, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, dyslipidemia, hypertension, IGT, and IFG. The prevention, early recognition, and treatment of obesity are essential to avoid associated morbidities.

Relationship of acanthosis nigricans with metabolic syndrome in obese children

OBJECTIVES

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin symptom in obesity that helps to identify patients at high risk for dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes. It is the most important complication of obesity in metabolic syndrome. Studies investigating the relationship between acanthosis nigricans and metabolic syndrome in obese children are insufficient. In our study, the relationship of acanthosis nigricans and metabolic syndrome was evaluated in children.

METHODS

Obese children aged between 6 and 18 years old, who were examined in the pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic, were included. The patients' anthropometric measurements and laboratory results were recorded. Modified IDF (International Diabetes Federation) criteria for children were used in metabolic syndrome classification.

RESULTS

A hundred and forty-eight obese children were evaluated. The mean age of the cases was 11.91 ± 2.94 years old. Of the cases, 56.1% were female (n=83) 43.9% (n=65) were male. In 39.9% (n=59) of cases, acanthosis nigricans was determined. Acanthosis nigricans was mostly located in the axillary area (27.1%) and the neck (16.9%). In 55.9% of the cases, it was located in more than one area. The relation of regionally detected acanthosis nigricans and metabolic syndrome was not significant (p=0.291). Metabolic syndrome was detected in 14% of 136 patients according to IDF criteria. Acanthosis nigricans and metabolic syndrome combination was present in 27.7%; however, 6.7% of the metabolic syndrome patients did not have acanthosis nigricans. There was a strong relation between metabolic syndrome and the presence of acanthosis nigricans (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, a correlation between acanthosis nigricans and metabolic syndrome was detected. Acanthosis nigricans is a skin sign that can be easily detected by clinician. It is an important and easy-to-detect dermatosis that helps determine patients at risk of metabolic syndrome in obese children.

Role of thyroid hormones in craniofacial development

The development of the craniofacial skeleton relies on complex temporospatial organization of diverse cell types by key signalling molecules. Even minor disruptions to these processes can result in deleterious consequences for the structure and function of the skull. Thyroid hormone deficiency causes delayed craniofacial and tooth development, dysplastic facial features and delayed development of the ossicles in the middle ear. Thyroid hormone excess, by contrast, accelerates development of the skull and, in severe cases, might lead to craniosynostosis with neurological sequelae and facial hypoplasia. The pathogenesis of these important abnormalities remains poorly understood and underinvestigated. The orchestration of craniofacial development and regulation of suture and synchondrosis growth is dependent on several critical signalling pathways. The underlying mechanisms by which these key pathways regulate craniofacial growth and maturation are largely unclear, but studies of single-gene disorders resulting in craniofacial malformations have identified a number of critical signalling molecules and receptors. The craniofacial consequences resulting from gain-of-function and loss-of-function mutations affecting insulin-like growth factor 1, fibroblast growth factor receptor and WNT signalling are similar to the effects of altered thyroid status and mutations affecting thyroid hormone action, suggesting that these critical pathways interact in the regulation of craniofacial development.

Metabolic Syndrome and Prediabetes Among Yemeni School-Aged Children

PURPOSE

In view of the high rate of obesity and physical inactivity as well as the rising incidence of Type 2 DM among children in the neighboring Gulf countries and Middle East region; the aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prediabetes in Yemeni school-aged children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, 1402 school children aged 12-13 years old (grade 7) were recruited from public schools in the capital Sana'a during the period April-May 2013. Anthropometric measurements and BP were recorded and BMI was calculated. Fasting venous blood (5 mL) was collected for biochemical analysis including FBG, HbA1c, insulin and lipids profile. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-β) were calculated.

RESULTS

The prevalence of prediabetes (as defined by impaired fasting glucose) and MetS (as classified by the IDF 2007) were 0.86% and 0.5%, respectively. Our results also showed 5.21% and 20.26% of the children to have two or one factor(s) of the MetS criteria fulfilled, respectively, with low HDL-c (17%) being the most prevalent MetS component, followed by metabolic glucose (8%), raised TG (5.3%), DBP (1.4%), and high WC (0.5%). Moreover, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 4.2% and 2.8%, respectively; and about 1.2% of children had abnormal high insulin levels. Children with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) had increased HOMA-IR (p = 0.016) and SBP (p = 0.042) and decreased HDL-c (p = 0.034) and HOMA-β (p < 0.001); whereas obese children had increased WC (p < 0.001) and TG (p = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

The main finding of this study is that Yemeni children are at potential risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and prediabetes despite their low prevalences. These results highlight the need for early identification and close monitoring of children at risk of later Type 2 DM as an important primary care strategy that can effectively prevent or delay the onset of such condition.

Obesity and Bariatric Surgery awareness in the Kocaeli province, a leading industrial city in Turkey

OBJECTIVES

An increase in the prevelance of obesity is a worldwide problem. It many serious health problems, especially cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Conservative therapies such as diet modification and exercise are the most preferable obesity treatments. Bariatric surgery is the most appropriate treatment in suitable patients. Several studies showed that a very low number of patients prefer bariatric surgery even though it would be appropriate. This study aimed to assess and raise awareness about the obesity level, its complications, and treatment methods, especially bariatric surgery among obese patients in Kocaeli, which is one of the most socio-economically developed cities, as well as the leading industrial city in Turkey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A survey was designed to assess the knowledge about obesity, its complications, and bariatric surgery in the Kocaeli province. It was administered to 232 adult patients with a body mass index greater than 30 in different outpatient clinics where patients suffering obesity were treated.

RESULTS

It has been seen that although the contribution factors and complications of obesity are well known, awareness of the body mass index was insufficient. Most of patients have tried to lose weight at least once and most patients have heard of bariatric surgery before. However, the details were not well known. The gastric band method is the most known method, and the most known risk of surgery was death. The main source of knowledge about bariatric surgery was television. The increasing body mass index affects patients' attitudes toward the surgery positively.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of bariatric surgery is inadequate in the Kocaeli province, which is one of the most socio-economically developed cities, as well as the leading industrial city in Turkey. More social responsibility projects and more objective elucidating via television and social media are also needed to increase the awareness of bariatric surgery.

Management of hyperthyroidism in children

Treatment of hyperthyroidism in children differs according to its etiology; in particular, the optimal therapy of Graves' disease (GD) remains a matter of debate and there is currently no evidence-based therapeutic strategy that is universally adopted in all the countries. Areas covered: The most recent treatment strategies in the different pediatric conditions which may be associated with hyperthyroidism. We searched PubMed and Cochrane (1990 to 2016) in order to identify articles to include in this review using the following terms: Hyperthyroidism, Childhood, Antithyroid drug therapy, Thyroidectomy, Radioactive iodine. Expert commentary: Although pharmacological therapy represents the first-line approach for GD children, we recommend to individualize, as much as possible, the overall therapeutic approach, with no prejudices towards radical therapies, particularly in the cases with frequent relapses. Clinical and laboratory preferential criteria for an individualized therapeutic approach to GD children are given. Treatment procedures for hyperthyroid children without GD are also discussed.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Elementary School Children in East of Iran

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents is becoming a global public health concern. MS tracks into adulthood increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. This study was designed to verify the rate of MS in elementary school students of Birjand, as a representative sample of Iranian children to verify the best preventive measures in this age group.

Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on 1425 elementary school children through multiple-cluster sampling in 2013. Height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure of children were measured by standard methods. Blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were also measured after 12 hours fasting. MS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) based on the National Cholesterol Education Program. Data were analyzed by SPSS using t test and chi-square test. Significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of MS was 5.3% which increased with age. 43.5% of the studied cases had one or more components of the MS. The most common components were hypertension, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol and impaired fasting glucose, respectively. MS prevalence was 0.9% in normal weight, 11.3% in overweight and 36.2% in obese children.

Conclusion: Regarding the high prevalence of MS in elementary school children in our region, screening for obesity is recommended to prevent adulthood complications. Therapeutic lifestyle changes and maintenance of regular physical activity are the most important strategies for preventing childhood obesity.

Management of neonates born to women with Graves' disease: a cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Hyperthyroidism in neonates born to mothers with Graves' disease (GD) can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but is still overlooked by clinicians. Management of neonatal hyperthyroidism would be improved by a better understanding of the predictive factors involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of thyroid function and clinical outcomes during the first postnatal month in babies born to mothers with GD.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

METHODS

Sixty-eight neonates born to mothers with GD were managed from birth and divided into three groups based on thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) and anti-thyroid drug (ATD) status in the mother: TRAb(-ve)/ATD(-ve), n=27; TRAb(-ve)/ATD(+) (ve), n=8; and TRAb(+ve)/ATD(+ve), n=33. The main outcome measures were clinical examination, thyroid function tests (TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine, and TRAb), echocardiography, thyroid ultrasonography, and bone maturation assessment.

RESULTS

None of the infants born to TRAb(-ve) mothers with GD developed neonatal hyperthyroidism. Of the 33 TRAb(+ve)/ATD(+ve) neonates, 24 (72.7%) had positive TRAb on cord blood assays, and seven of these developed neonatal hyperthyroidism. FT4 elevation between days 3 and 7 but not at birth was predictive of the development of hyperthyroidism.

CONCLUSIONS

TRAb status should be checked in the third trimester in mothers with GD and on cord blood in their neonates; if positive, it indicates a high risk of neonatal hyperthyroidism. FT4 measurement at birth should be repeated between days 3 and 5 (and by day 7 at the latest); rapid FT4 elevation during the first postnatal week is predictive of hyperthyroidism and warrants ATD therapy.

Sonographic Diagnosis of Fetal Goiter

The presence of a goiter in the fetus is an indication of maternal thyroid dysfunction. It carries an increased morbidity and mortality for the fetus and into the neonatal period. Maternal thyroid disease must be monitored closely and medications adjusted throughout pregnancy to prevent adverse outcomes. In females with poorly controlled thyroid disease, sonography is useful in the evaluation of the fetus at risk for goiter.