Risk assessment of metabolic syndrome in adolescents using the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the distributions of the triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and total cholesterol (TC) to HDL-C ratio, and to explore their usefulness as markers of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean adolescents. Methods: We obtained data for 2,721 adolescents (1,436 boys and 1,285 girls) aged 10-18 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2008 to 2010. International Diabetes Federation criteria were used to define MetS. Results: : There were no significant gender-related differences in TG/HDL-C or TC/ HDL-C ratios. These lipid ratios showed significant associations with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and waist circumference. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve to identify MetS were 0.947 for TG/HDL-C and 0.924 for TC/HDL-C, which were higher than that of HOMA-IR (0.822). Optimal cutoff values (sensitivity, specificity) of TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios for MetS prediction were 3.3 (85.7%, 89.9%), and 3.8 (92.9%, 82.8%), respectively. Odds ratio (OR; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for MetS in adolescents with TC/HDL-C ratio above the cutoff value was 14.8 (2.8-77.4), while that for TG/HDL-C ratio about the cutoff value was 30.6 (6.0-157.6). In adolescents who had both lipid ratios above the cutoff values, the OR (95% CI) for MetS was 36.2 (7.2-186.2). Conclusion: TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios are useful markers of metabolic syndrome with high predictive value in Korean adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]