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Elevated white blood cell count in children may predict future insulin resistance
In Korean children, an increased white blood cell count may serve as a marker for insulin resistance independent of obesity, according to findings from a cross-sectional study.
“Increasing evidence indicates that insulin resistance is closely associated with chronic subclinical inflammation,” Yong-Jae Lee, MPH, MD, PhD, associate professor of family medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues wrote. “Inflammatory markers, such as white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, are thought to be independent predictors of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in adults. ... However, there is limited research that has examined the association between [white blood cell cell] count and insulin resistance, as measured by [homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance], in a general pediatric population.”
Lee and colleagues analyzed data from 2,761 children participating in the 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide, population-based survey conducted by the Korea CDC (1,479 boys). The survey includes a health interview, nutrition survey and health exam. Researchers stratified participants by white blood cell count quartiles and sex. For boys, ranges were 5,340 cells/µL or less; 5,350 cells/µL to 6,070 cells/µL; 6,080 cells/µL to 6,990 cells/µL; and at least 7,000 cells/µL. For girls, ranges were 5,220 cells/µL or less; 5,230 cells/µL to 6,000 cells/µL; 6,010 cells/µL to 6,940 cells/µL; and at least 6,950 cells/µL. Researchers used logistic regression analyses to determine ORs for insulin resistance across white blood cell count quartiles.
Within the cohort, 14% of boys had overweight and 5.9% had obesity; 10.8% of girls had overweight and 5.6% had obesity. The prevalence of insulin resistance rose across white blood cell count quartiles. For boys, insulin resistance prevalence was 2.5%, 7.1%, 11.1% and 15.9% across quartiles; for girls, insulin resistance prevalence was 4%, 8%, 9.5% and 16.1%.
Compared with the lowest white blood cell count quartile, the OR for insulin resistance for boys in the highest quartile was 2.84 (95% CI, 1.27-6.37) and 3.2 for girls (95% CI, 1.49-6.89) after adjustment for BMI and waist circumference.
“Our findings are consistent with the results from previous studies, showing that [white blood cell] count is highly correlated with cardiometabolic risk factors, and suggest that [white blood cell] count could be a reliable indicator of insulin resistance and useful in predicting insulin resistance in children and adolescents,” the researchers wrote. – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.