Uricaemia and associated health determinants in a paediatric population in Mexico.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Uric acid (UA) is a product of the catabolism of purines, and its increase in blood may be related to the development of cardiometabolic diseases. Whether UA is the result or causal determinant of the appearance of risk factors for cardiometabolic disease is not yet known. UA levels among the young student population in San Luis Potosi have increased in recent years, which may be indicative of a serious future public health concern. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the association of sociodemographic, lifestyle and cardiometabolic determinants with UA levels in children and adolescents in San Luis Potosí. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 730 students (54.1% female and 45.9% male, 6-19 years old) participated in the study. The subjects attended one of five public schools located in San Luis Potosí. Venous blood samples were collected, blood serum was separated by centrifugation, and UA concentrations were measured with an automated analytical platform. UA was associated with most of the independent variables studied. It presented a positive correlation with body mass index (r = 0.363, p < 0.01). Male sex, socioeconomic status, total screen time, exercise, adequate sleep, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol explained 23%-39% (p < 0.001) of the variability of plasma concentrations of UA in children and adolescents. CONCLUSION: Early detection of these determinants will prevent future diseases. Moreover, it will help with the implementation of preventive strategies that could improve the health of this population.

Glycemia and associated factors in a pediatric population in Mexico.

Aims: In this study, we evaluated the association of sociodemographic, lifestyle and cardiometabolic factors with blood glucose levels in children and adolescents in Mexico. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study of 642 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years from different educational centers located in municipalities of the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, was carried out. Pearson χ2 and Spearman correlation tests and multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations of the variables with glycemia. Results: The prevalence of prediabetes was 8.0% in both sexes. Male participants were more likely to develop hyperglycemia than female participants (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5-5.0). The variables associated with glucose levels were male sex, high socioeconomic status, inadequate diet, high blood pressure, and increased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, which also explained up to 15.6% (p < 0.05) of the variability in glucose concentrations. Conclusion: The detection of sociodemographic, lifestyle and cardiometabolic factors in children and adolescents will contribute to the implementation of prevention strategies for cardiometabolic diseases, among which prediabetes is common.