Cardio-Metabolic Biomarkers in Adolescents: Estimating Health Risks Through Filial Ties Over Three Generations - Abstract
Background: Complex etiology of various cardio-metabolic disorders involves both genetic components and environmental exposures. In most of these diseases, there is a well-documented association between family history of the disease and its development. The study estimates cardio-metabolic risk in adolescents through cardio-metabolic health of grandparent and maternal generation.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analysis on 463 parent-child dyads (biological mothers) was conducted through multi-staged stratified sampling
from April, 2011 till September, 2013. Self-reported data on cardio-metabolic parameters was documented for grandparental generation. Binary logistic
regression models estimated the children’s risk for each cardio metabolic risk factor with cardio-metabolic history in parent or subsequent generation controlling
for TV viewing time, age, gender and ethnicity.
Results: Odds-ratio for children in upper quartiles of SBP, DBP, WC and BMI were significantly associated with cardio- metabolic history of the grandparent and health of the mother in varying degrees. Mother-child pair analyses show that a BMI ? 25 kg/ m2 results in higher BMI in offspring (6.47 times), risk of WC ? 85th percentile increases 2.59 times and occurrence of BP ? 90th percentile ranges from 4.16-4.70. Hypertension in mothers might result in similar condition in her progeny.
Conclusion: The study reflects diverse associations between cardio-metabolic profiles and order of relatives. Early and timely intervention in the maternal generation might reduce the risk of high BP or metabolic diseases in children. Chronic ailments that now start early in life can be prevented or delayed, at least among children of high-risk genitors.