Presence of metabolic syndrome markers in very low birth weight ex-premature infants during early adolescence.

Objectives: To investigate the association of growth patterns with overweight/obesity and markers of metabolic syndrome in ex-premature adolescents; to assess the relationship between the increase (1 SD) in Z-score weight at term and at 2 years with outcomes in adolescents with or without intrauterine growth restriction; and to evaluate the association between the Cook criteria and overweight/obesity according to body mass index.

Methods: Cohort, retrospective, analytical study. Population: adolescents born weighting<1,500 g.

Results: One hundred twenty-seven adolescents (11.3 years) were included. There is an association between the 1 SD increase in the percentile () of weight at 40 weeks and at 2 years in the population with adequate birth weight (PCA) with insulin levels, resistance, and sensitivity at 11 years. Catch-up at 2 years was associated with significantly higher proportion of HDL value<41 (18.75 vs. 5.36 %) OR 4.08 95% CI (1.04-16.05) p=0.031. Overweight/obesity was associated with waist circumference index>0.5, HDL<41, and with blood pressure greater than 90 for sex and height.

Conclusions: In preterm infants, a 1 SD increase in weight Z score at 40 weeks and 2 years was predictive of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders in adolescence.