High predictability of impaired glucose tolerance by combining cardiometabolic screening parameters in obese children

There is debate on which overweight and obese children should be screened for the presence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) by oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT). The objective of the study was to identify risk factors predictive of the presence of IGT. In a cohort of overweight children, who underwent OGTT, we determined the association of anthropometric and laboratory parameters with IGT and whether combining parameters improved the sensitivity of screening for IGT. Out of 145 patients, IGT was present in 11, of whom two had impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Elevated blood pressure (p=0.025) and elevated liver enzymes (p=0.003) were associated with IGT, whereas IFG was not (p=0.067), screening patients with either one of these parameters predicted IGT with a high sensitivity of 1.00, and a number needed to screen of 5.7. Screening all patients with either IFG, presence of elevated blood pressure and elevated liver enzymes, significantly increases predictability of IGT compared to using IFG alone.