Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults with cerebral palsy

Aim To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and the association between common metabolic markers and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels in ambulatory adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Method Metabolic markers and GMFCS levels were evaluated in a cross‐sectional study of 70 ambulatory adults with CP (34 males, 36 females; mean age 24y 5mo [SD 5y 4mo], range 18y 6mo–48y 8mo) to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and CVD risk factors, and were compared to age‐matched, population norms from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) registry. The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) CVD risk estimation was also used to evaluate an individual's risk for CVD. Results Metabolic syndrome was identified in 17.1% of the cohort, higher than the 10% in the NHANES registry. The FHS CVD 30‐year lipid and body mass index (BMI)‐based risk factor results showed that 20% to 40% of the cohort was at greater risk of developing CVD (BMI‐based: 39.7% ‘full’ CVD risk factor; lipid‐based: 26.5% ‘full’ CVD risk factor) as compared to the FHS normative population data. There was a positive correlation between GMFCS level, waist circumference (r=0.28, p=0.02), and waist‐to‐hip ratio (r=0.28, p=0.02). Interpretation Adults with CP are at higher risk of CVD and metabolic syndrome compared to the general population, which is probably because of impaired mobility. What this paper adds Gross Motor Function Classification System levels can predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Anthropometric measures are significant in predicting CVD risk factors in adults with CP. Early CVD screening and ongoing risk factor monitoring are important in adults with CP. Resumen Prevalencia del síndrome metabólico y factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular en adultos con parálisis cerebral Objetivo Investigar la prevalencia de los factores de riesgo del síndrome metabólico y la enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) y la asociación entre los marcadores metabólicos comunes y los niveles del Sistema de Clasificación de la Función Motora Gruesa (GMFCS) en adultos ambulatorios con parálisis cerebral (PC). Método Los marcadores metabólicos y los niveles de GMFCS se evaluaron en un estudio transversal de 70 adultos ambulatorios con PC (34 varones 36 mujeres; edad media 24 años 5 meses [DS 5 años 4 meses], rango 18 años 6 meses‐ 48 años 8 meses) para determinar la pr