Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2022 Dec;27(4):273-280. 10.6065/apem.2142226.113.

The association between C-reactive protein, metabolic syndrome, and prediabetes in Korean children and adolescents

• Kim JH
• Lim JS

• KMID: 2537239
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2142226.113

Abstract

Purpose
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a state of chronic inflammation, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) indicates inflammation. This paper evaluates the associations between hsCRP and MetS and its components in Korean children and adolescents.
Methods
We analyzed the data of 1,247 subjects (633 males, 14.2±2.7 years) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2017. This study defined MetS and its components using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria.
Results
The mean hsCRP level was 0.86±1.57 mg/dL (median and interquartile range: 0.37 and 0.43 mg/dL). Subjects with MetS had higher hsCRP level than subjects without MetS (geometric mean: 1.08 mg/dL vs. 0.46 mg/dL, p<0.001). With a higher quartile value of hsCRP, the prevalence of MetS increased. Compared to the lowest quartile, the odds ratio (OR) for MetS in the highest quartile was 7.34 (3.07–17.55) after adjusting for age and sex. In the top quartile of hsCRP, the risk of abdominal obesity and low HDL was high after adjusting for age, sex, and other components of MetS. Additionally, the OR for prediabetes (HbA1c ≥5.7%) in the highest quartile was 2.70.
Conclusion
Serum hsCRP level was positively associated with MetS and prediabetes using NCEP-ATP III criteria. Among the MetS components, abdominal obesity and low HDL were highly correlated with hsCRP in Korean children and adolescents.

Keyword

Children and adolescents; Metabolic syndrome; High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Obesity; Prediabetes; Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The prevalence of MetS according to hsCRP quartile. The prevalence of MetS in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 was 2.1%, 2.1%, 4.4%, and 15.5%, respectively. MetS, metabolic syndrome; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

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  Fig. 2. The prevalence of prediabetes (HbA1c≥5.7%) according to hsCRP quartile. For Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, the prevalence of prediabetes was 6.3%, 8.3%, 8.0%, and 15.0%, respectively. hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Reference

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