Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome and its components in adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of the Center for Studies on Adolescent Health at Pedro Ernesto University Hospital. Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus were analyzed. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation . Clinical, sociodemographic, laboratory and physical activity variables were analyzed. RESULTS: The study evaluated 42 adolescents with a mean age of 16.8 ± 1.5 years, of whom 37 (88%) were female and five (12%) were male. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in seven lupus patients (16.7%), all of whom were aged between 17 and 19 years. Sedentary lifestyle, disease activity and unfavorable socioeconomic conditions were the variables most associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome in adolescents. Among the components that comprise it, high waist circumference, hypertension and low HDL-c were the most prevalent. CONCLUSION: This study allowed us to conclude that the adolescents who presented the highest prevalence of metabolic syndrome were female, aged between 17 and 19 years, attending high school, with a family income of less than three minimum wages. The most frequent clinical characteristics were obesity, use of antimalarials, sedentary lifestyle and with a time since diagnosis of the disease in the period of 1 to 3 years.