Psychosocial Problems at Preschool Age and Cardiometabolic Health Profile at Preadolescence

Objective: Evidence suggests that children with psychosocial problems face a higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood. However, this may already be evident prior to adulthood. In this study, the associations between psychosocial problems at preschool age and cardiometabolic outcomes 6 years later were investigated.

Methods: Data from 936 participants from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study was used. Psychosocial problems were assessed using the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) when the children were 5-6 years old, reported by both mothers and teachers. Cardiometabolic parameters, including body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and carotid intima-media thickness were subsequently measured at ages 11-12 years. The associations between psychosocial problems and cardiometabolic outcomes were assessed using multivariable linear and logistic regression models.

Results: In model 1, adjusted for age, sex, and puberty status, and in model 2, for sociodemographic and biological predisposition factors, the combined mother-teacher score yielded a positive association with clustered cardiometabolic score (b = 0.05, 95% confidence interval = 0.03-0.10) 6 years later. Adjusting for lifestyle factors rendered this association nonsignificant. Significant associations between mother-reported SDQ scores and most cardiometabolic parameters, except for triglycerides, diminished after controlling for confounders. Children with higher total SDQ score (by mother) had 1.31 times higher odds of developing metabolic syndrome (95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.62).

Conclusion: This study established a small inverse association between mother-reported psychosocial problems at ages 5-6 years and cardiometabolic health profile at ages 11-12 years.