Risk factors for the development of metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents.

SUMMARY Introduction High prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents is a great concern of the modern society. Objective Our aim was to determine the influence of previously investigated, but also and potentially novel risk factors for the development of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. Methods Observational case-control clinical study was conducted involving children and adolescents with obesity/metabolic syndrome, treated on inpatient basis from January 2008 to January 2012 at the Pediatric Clinic of the Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia. The group of "cases" (n=28) included patients aged 10-16 years with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, while the control group included twice as many obese patients (n=56) matched to the compared group. Results Presence of maternal gestational diabetes (OR adjusted : 39.426; 95% CI: 1.822-853.271; p=0.019), and/or lack of breastfeeding in the first six months of life (OR adjusted : 0.079; 95% CI: 0.009-0.716; p=0.024) were significant predictors for developing MetS. Also, microalbuminuria is associated with MetS in obese children and adolescents (OR adjusted : 1.686; 95% CI: 1.188-2.393; p=0.003). Conclusion Presence of maternal gestational diabetes and/or lack of infant breastfeeding are considered as relevant factors that may contribute to the increased risk of developing MetS syndrome, while microalbuminuria is frequently associated with MetS in obese children and adolescents.