Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using ATP-derived definitions and its relation to insulin-resistance in a cohort of Italian outpatient children.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) defined by three sets of Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII)-derived criteria, and the ability of each definition to identify insulin-resistance (IR) in a wide cohort of outpatient children.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Seven hundred and twenty-four children consecutively observed in the Outpatient Pediatric Clinic of Pozzuoli Hospital during the period 2004-2009 were included in the study. Diagnosis of the MetS was made using three definitions: Cook, Jolliffe (which adopt age- and gender-specific cut-points) and de Ferranti. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). IR was defined by the 90th percentile of HOMA-IR in healthy non-obese Italian children grouped by gender and Tanner stage. The ability of each definition to identify IR was evaluated in terms of sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of the MetS in the overall cohort was 11, 12 and 24% using Cook, Jolliffe and de Ferranti criteria, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity in relation to IR were 19 and 94% with Cook criteria, 21 and 92% with Jolliffe criteria, and 39 and 84% with de Ferranti criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of the MetS in children increases with increasing body weight. Among the three definitions analyzed, de Ferranti identifies a larger number of children with the MetS. The prediction of IR is weak with all definitions; on the contrary, the absence of MetS identifies fairly well children with low degree of IR.