Overweight adolescents with high fasting blood sugar at higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis

According to a study published in Jornal de Pediatria, researchers have concluded that Adolescents who are overweight and exhibit elevated fasting blood sugar levels face an increased risk of subclinical atherosclerotic disease or SAD.

This Cross-sectional study included 161 adolescents aged 10-19 years with a BMI of ≥ +1 z-Score. To assess subclinical atherosclerotic disease, ultrasound was used to evaluate IMT (Carotid intima-media complex thickness).

The cardiometabolic indicators were age, sex, nutritional status, central adiposity, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glycemic profile. The data was presented using central tendency, dispersion measures, and absolute and relative frequency.

Pearson or Spearman correlation and multiple regression modelling determined the relationship between IMT measurement and other variables and predictors of IMT.

Key findings from the study are:

23.7 % had Carotid thickening.

The prevalence of abnormal fasting glucose was the lowest.

Age and fasting glucose were predictors of IMT increase.

IMT decreased by 1 % with age yearly and increased by 0.24 % per mg/dL with glucose.

They said the main objective of our study was to build a model based on cardiometabolic indicators, allowing the identification of overweight adolescents at higher risk of SAD. We found adolescents at higher risk are younger with higher fasting glycemia levels.

Reference:

Medeiros, Camila M., et al. “Fasting Glucose: a Cardiometabolic Indicator for Subclinical Atherosclerosis On Excess Weight Adolescents.” Jornal De Pediatria, 2024.