A high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance exists in pre-pubertal children with psoriasis, according to a recent publication in the European Journal of Pediatrics.
“We performed a single-center study, investigating the prevalence of MetS and levels of insulin resistance in a population of pre-pubertal children with psoriasis and the correlations with clinical and anamnestic data,” explained the study authors.
Researchers evaluated the demographics of 60 pre-pubertal children with psoriasis between ages 3 and 10 years during 2014 to 2018. Age, sex, height, body weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and family history (first degree relatives affected) of psoriasis and metabolic or cardiovascular diseases (ie, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia) were collected for each patient.
Among the study sample size, the mean age of the children was 7.8 (±2.4) years, and 50% were boys. The mean value of BMI was 19.0 (±4.3), though 40% of children were overweight or obese and 53% had central obesity (WHtR ≥0.5).
The number of children who had moderate to severe psoriasis was 18 (30%), and 34 (57%) had a family history of psoriasis. Forty (67%) had a family history of metabolic or cardiovascular disease. Further, insulin resistance was found in 27% of the children.
“Our data underline the importance of assessing metabolic syndrome not only in adults and adolescents but also in young children with psoriasis,” concluded the study authors. –Lisa Kuhns
Reference
Caroppo F, Galderisi A, Ventura L, Fortina AB. Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in pre-pubertal children with psoriasis. Eur J Pediatr. Published online January 22, 2021. doi:10.1007/s00431-020-03924-w
