The effect of COVID-19 restriction on metabolic syndrome in primary hypertension

LEVENTOĞLU E., Sisik P. P., ÇELİK İ. E., BÜYÜKKARAGÖZ B.

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, cilt.64, sa.1, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 64 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/ped.15144
  • Dergi Adı: PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: children, COVID-19, metabolic syndrome, primary hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, CHILDREN, POPULATION, PREVALENCE
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background Primary hypertension (HT) has been increasingly reported in parallel to the increase in the prevalence of obesity in children, both of which are important components of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 restrictions, which are believed to induce lifestyle changes and physical inactivity, on the parameters of metabolic syndrome in children with primary hypertension. Methods This was an observational, pre-post study conducted on pediatric patients with primary HT. The first phase of the study was the period prior to when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in Turkey, and the second phase was up to the date when the restrictions were lifted. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, laboratory tests, and hypertensive-mediated organ damage at both phases of the study were compared. Results Severe restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with an increase in mean +/- standard deviation body mass index (BMI) (26.4 +/- 7.3 vs. 27.2 +/- 7.1, P = 0.002), antihypertensive drug use (n = 53 (57.6%) vs. n = 59 (64.1%), P < 0.0001), fasting blood glucose level (89.4 +/- 12.6 vs. 94.1 +/- 14.2, P = 0.013), and a borderline elevation in total cholesterol (21 [22.8%] vs. 28 [30.4%], P < 0.0001). These increases negatively affected end organs, with an increased frequency of interventricular septum hypertrophy (n = 12 [13%] vs. n = 17 [18.5%], P = 0.031). Conclusions COVID-19 restrictions were associated with an increased risk of parameters associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with primary hypertension. Physicians should carefully monitor the weight, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose level, and total cholesterol levels in patients during periods of movement/activity restrictions such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.