Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiometabolic health parameters in children with preexisting dyslipidemia

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns for worsening cardiometabolic health in children.Objective: This study evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social restrictions on pediatric cardiometabolic health factors.Methods: Retrospective review of patients in a pediatric lipid clinic in the year prior to (3/18/20193/17/2020) and during (3/18/2020-3/17/2021) the COVID-19 pandemic was performed. Physical findings (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and blood pressure), laboratory markers of cardiometabolic health (lipid panel, insulin resistance, and liver transaminases), self-reported exercise time, and lipid-lowering medications (metformin, statin, omega-3 fatty acids, fenofibrate) were compared.Results: 297 subjects met inclusion criteria. Among subjects prescribed no medications or on stable medication doses (n = 241), there were few changes in lipid panels. Among subjects with new or increased medication doses between pre-pandemic and pandemic intervals (n = 62), there were increases in triglycerides (p = 0.019) and HgbA1c (p = 0.046). There was no change in z-scores for both BMI and WC for either group. Conclusion: We observed concerning trends in markers of cardiovascular disease health (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes), independent of changes in weight, in at-risk children during the recent COVID pandemic. Our findings suggest that this vulnerable population may benefit from more frequent monitoring and intense management during such events. (c) 2022 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social restrictions on pediatric cardiometabolic health factors. The results reveal concerning trends in markers of cardiovascular disease health, independent of changes in weight, in at-risk children during the recent COVID pandemic. The findings suggest that this vulnerable population may benefit from more frequent monitoring and intense management during such events.