Association of cell blood counts and cardiometabolic risk factors among young obese children

Objectives: To determine the association of cell blood count with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st November 2007 to 1st October 2008 in the Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Research Clinic of the Preventive Pediatric Cardiology Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan, Iran. It comprised 326 (172 girls and 154 boys) obese children aged 6-12 years. Results: The mean age of participants was 8.8 +/- 2.7 years. A significant increasing trend in the mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), triglycerides (TG), total- and low density lipoprotein (LDL)- cholesterol were documented across the quartiles of the white blood cell (WBC) count, and for waist-to-hip ratio and total cholesterol across platelet quartiles. A similar increasing trend was documented for BMI, waist and hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure, LDL-C, and for TG from the second to the fourth quartile of the red blood cells. By the increase in the number of components of metabolic syndrome, the mean BMI, WBC, and TG increased significantly. The highest correlation was documented between WBC count and TG. The WBC count increased the risk of increased BMI (odds ratio [OR]=1.45, confidence interval [CI] 95%; 1.11-1.65, p=0.001), increased WC (OR; 1.47, CI 95%; 1.15-1.74, p=-0.001), and high TG (CI 95%; 1.241.06-1.44, p=0.005). Conclusion: We found significant associations between CBC components and cardiometabolic risk factors in young obese children. These findings are confirmatory evidence of the pro-inflammatory state of obese individuals, even in young children. Saudi Med J 2010; Vol. 31 (4): 406-412