Association of socioeconomic status, truncal fat and sICAM-1 with carotid intima-media thickness in adolescents: The HELENA study

- Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured in 319 healthy adolescents.
- We assessed the determinant factors of cIMT.
- Socioeconomic disparities in adolescents were associated with a greater cIMT.
- Truncal adiposity in adolescents was associated with a greater cIMT.

ObjectiveTo measure the carotid intima-media-thickness (cIMT) and to assess its determinant factors in healthy adolescents.Methods319 adolescents aged 12.5-17.5 years (135 boys, 184 girls) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. cIMT and carotid diameter were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, physical activity (PA), aerobic fitness and dietary intakes were assessed. Socioeconomic status was determined with the family affluence scale (FAS 4). Serum biological markers (lipids, glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, soluble adhesion molecules) were measured in a subsample of 96 adolescents.ResultsMultiple regression analysis showed that cIMT was positively associated with truncal fat (p = 0.021) and negatively with FAS 4 (p = 0.002) independently of age and blood pressure. There were no significant associations between cIMT and PA, fitness and dietary intakes. In the subsample soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 was positively correlated with cIMT (p = 0.017), independently of truncal fat, age and blood pressure.ConclusionsLow socioeconomic conditions and increased truncal fat are associated with greater carotid intima-media-thickness in adolescents.