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Socioeconomic disadvantages in childhood and metabolic syndrome risk: A call to action?

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Article history: Received 3 August 2018 Accepted 8 August 2018 Available online 11 August 2018 of Cardiology by (Iguacel, et al.) studied a group of children included in The Identification… Click to show full abstract

Article history: Received 3 August 2018 Accepted 8 August 2018 Available online 11 August 2018 of Cardiology by (Iguacel, et al.) studied a group of children included in The Identification and Prevention of Dietaryand Lifestyle-induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) study in European children [10]. Parental questionnaires were applied at baseline and again two years later and consisted of information regarding education, income, social network, family structure, origin and employment Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in developed countries and in Europe, accounting for more than 20% of deaths [1]. Metabolic syndrome, which is defined by an aggregation of several risk factors, namely hypertension, high triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, glucose intolerance/diabetes and increased waist circumference, is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and several studies and meta-analysis performed in the last decade have consistently confirmed that association, particularly in primary prevention [2–5]. Previous studies demonstrated that low socioeconomic status in adults (low educational level, low income, holding a low-status job or living in a poor residential area) is closely related to psychosocial risk factors such as chronic stress atwork and in family life, depression, anxiety, hostility and socially isolation/lack of social support, that cluster in individuals and groups and increases the risk of coronary artery disease, worsening prognosis [6]. Another link is through unhealthy lifestyle, such as more frequent smoking, unhealthy food choices, less physical activity and low adherence to behaviour changes recommendations. For that reason, assessment of psychosocial risk factors is of the upmost importance to consider as risk modifiers in cardiovascular risk prediction and prevention [6]. Socioeconomic inequalities in children and adolescents are increasing and it accompanies the increase in obesity prevalence. This is particularly clear in a study that compared several cohorts. In cohorts from 1946 to 1970, patients from low socioeconomic background presented lower weight in childhood and adolescence [7]. However, in a later cohort, from 2001, low socioeconomic status was associated with higher weight. In both cohorts, the difference in weight between socioeconomic status became larger from childhood to adolescence. This study showed that obesity presence in low socioeconomic communities is a more recent phenomenon. There is also a different direction according to gender, with obese men being predominately from higher socioeconomic status in childhoodandobesewomen from lower socioeconomic status suggesting different impact according to gender [8,9].

Keywords: risk; low socioeconomic; cardiology; metabolic syndrome; socioeconomic status

Journal Title: International journal of cardiology
Year Published: 2018

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