Cardiometabolic risk factors in Turkish children with hepatosteatosis

Özet

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of cardiometabolic (CM) risk factors(impaired fasting glucose (>100 mg/dL), high blood pressure, overweight orobesity, high serum triglycerides (TG) and low serum high-density lipoproteincholesterol levels) in children with hepatosteatosis detected by abdominalultrasound. Children whom ultrasound examination revealed hepatic steatosiswere included in the study. Medical records, anthropometric and biochemicalparameters were reviewed for the presence of the CM risk factors. Presence of≥3 risk factors was defined as metabolic syndrome (MS).One hundred and forty-eight children and adolescents (67 boys, 81girls, andmean age 12.1±2.7 years) with hepatosteatosis were included. Sonographichepatosteatosis grades of 1, 2 and 3 were observed in 111 (75%), 33 (22.3%),and 4 (2.7%) subjects, respectively. MS was observed in 36 patients (24.3%).The number of CM risk factors and degree of hepatic steatosis were correlated(r=0.183, p=0.026). Serum TG levels in girls and age in boys were significantlyassociated with the presence of medium to severe hepatosteatosis (grades 2 or3) (R2=.342, =.040 and R2=.538, p=.001, respectively). CM risk factors andMS are common in children with hepatosteatosis. The presence and grade ofhepatosteatosis on ultrasound can be used as surrogate markers of MS andCM risk in children.