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There are only limited reports on Punjabi’s health status in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Mets) and its risk factors among 277 subjects recruited from the Malaysian Punjabi community. Overall prevalence of Mets was 43%, but 61% among females. Subjects classified with Mets had significantly (p < 0.05) higher body mass index, visceral fat and percentage of body fat. Daily carbohydrate and glycemic index (GI) were also higher among Mets subjects (p < 0.05). Logistics regression analysis showed that primary level of education (OR 5.57, CI 1.29-23.97, p = 0.021) was a factor associated with Mets, followed by middle household income (OR 2.30, CI 1.01-5.20, p = 0.046), GI (OR 1.03, CI 1.00-1.06, p = 0.026), and age (OR 1.03, CI 1.00-1.05, p = 0.023). Mets shows high prevalence among the studied Punjabi population, prompting the consideration of adequate preventive measures, primarily among lower socioeconomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) risk is high in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and further compounded in those who are overweight. Children with CKD have a unique body habitus not accurately assessed by body mass index (BMI). Waist-to-height ratio (WHr), a better predictor of CV risk in populations with short stature, has not been investigated in children with CKD.Methods: Analysis of 1723 visits of 593 participants enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study was conducted. CKiD participants had BMI and WHr measured and classified as follows: (1) lean (WHr ≤ 0.49, BMI < 85th percentile); (2) WHr-overweight (WHr > 0.49, BMI < 85th percentile); (3) BMI-overweight (WHr ≤ 0.49, BMI ≥ 85th percentile); or (4) overweight by both BMI and WHr. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), fasting lipids, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), blood pressure, and glucose were measured as markers of CV risk. Linear mixed-effects regression was used to evaluate differences in CV markers between overweight and lean groups.Results: Participants were 12.2 years old, 60% male, and 17% African-American. Approximately 15% were overweight by WHr but not by BMI. Overweight status by WHr-only or both WHr and BMI was associated with lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and higher LVMI, triglycerides, and non-HDL cholesterol compared to lean. CV markers of participants overweight by BMI-only were similar to those of lean children.Conclusions: WHr-adiposity is associated with an adverse CV risk profile in children with CKD. A significant proportion of children with central adiposity are missed by BMI. WHr should be utilized as a screening tool for CV risk in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]