Screen Time and Its Relation to Cardiometabolic Risk among Children and Adolescents: The CASPIAN-III Study

Abstract

Background: Among chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes is more prominent. CNCDs origin in early life; with sedentary habits, notably prolonged screen time (ST), leisure time spent on watching TV and working computer, suggested as one of their risk factors. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ST and cardiometabolic risk factors in a nationally representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents.

Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 5,625 school students aged 10-18 were studied in the third national survey of a school-based surveillance program. For ensuring representativeness of sample, subjects were selected using multistage random cluster sampling method from urban and rural areas of 27 provinces in Iran (2009-10). ST was assessed through validated self-administered questionnaire, and cardiometabolic factors were determined. In addition, metabolic syndrome components were defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria modified for the pediatric age group. In addition, high total cholesterol (TC), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and generalized obesity were assessed as other cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results: Mean age was 14.73±2.41. While, positive significant association was found between ST and abdominal obesity, blood pressure, levels of LDL-C and triglycerides (P <0.05), it was reversely correlated with HDL-C level (P <0.05). However, there was positive but not statistically significant association between ST and odds of metabolic syndrome (P =0.32).

Conclusion: The association between ST and some metabolic syndrome components, reducing ST should be considered as one of the preventive strategies among children and adolescents.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Screen time, Physical activity, Children, Adolescent, Cardiometabolic risk factors, Iran