Background: The relationship between short sleep duration and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents has been inconsistent. This study aimed to examine the association between short sleep duration and MetS in Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods: Data were from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Jinan, China between September 2013 and November 2014. A total of 1008 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years were included. Sleep duration was self-reported by participants and categorized as normal or short (<9 h in children aged 6-12 years or <8 h in adolescents aged 13-17 years) according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. MetS was defined based on the modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

Results: After adjusted for sex, age, parental education levels, and midpoint of sleep, compared with normal sleep duration, short sleep duration was associated with increased odds of MetS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-2.95) and abdominal obesity (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.14-2.25). In the subgroups stratified by age and sex, compared with normal sleep duration, short sleep duration was associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.07-5.13) in girls aged 6-12 years; short sleep duration was associated with increased odds of MetS (OR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.06-5.84), abdominal obesity (OR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.10-4.82), and high TG (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.11-6.21) in boys aged 13-17 years.

Conclusions: Short sleep duration associated with higher odds for MetS in Chinese children and adolescents. Interventions to improve sleep duration could help prevent and control MetS among children and adolescents.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	children and adolescents, metabolic syndrome, sleep duration
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical sciences
Research Field:	Endocrinology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health)
Objective Field:	Neonatal and child health
UTAS Author:	Magnussen, CG (Associate Professor Costan Magnussen)
ID Code:	141157
Year Published:	2020
Web of Science® Times Cited:	4
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2020-09-29
Last Modified:	2021-12-15
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