Clustering of long-term trends in metabolic syndrome variables from childhood to adulthood in Blacks and Whites: the Bogalusa Heart Study

Am J Epidemiol. 2007 Sep 1;166(5):527-33. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwm105. Epub 2007 Jun 14.

Abstract

Clustering of long-term rates of change in metabolic syndrome variables (body mass index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, ratio of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and mean arterial pressure) from childhood to adulthood was evaluated longitudinally (1982-2003) in a cohort of 389 Blacks and 631 Whites who were examined 3-6 times both as children (ages 4-17 years) and as adults (ages 18-38 years) over an average of 16 years (3,874 observations). The incremental area under the growth curve was used as a measure of long-term rates of change in risk variables since childhood. Intraclass correlations, a measure of the degree of clustering, among the four variables were significant (p < 0.001) for childhood, adulthood, and incremental area values and were higher in adulthood than in childhood. Blacks showed a higher degree of clustering of long-term rates of change in risk variables than did Whites. Adjustment for body mass index reduced the degree of clustering by approximately 50%. These results show that metabolic syndrome variables coexist in terms not only of their levels in childhood and adulthood but also of long-term rates of change. Obesity is of critical importance in the development of metabolic syndrome, and its prevention beginning in childhood needs to be addressed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Louisiana / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / ethnology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Triglycerides