Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia

Abstract

Background/aim: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare disease characterized by low phosphate levels. Scientific evidence points to a link between h ypophosphatemia and obesity in general population. The aim of our longitudinal observational study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity and associated factors in a large cohort of children with XLH. Patients/methods: We studied 172 XLH-children 5–20 years of age (113 girls/59 boys). Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, and BMI) were collected at birth and during follow-up at mean ages of 5.3, 8.2, 11.3, and 15.9 years (groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). In each group, subjects were classified based on International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) cut off values of BMI for age and sex as overwe ight or obese (IOTF 25–30 or ≥30 kg/m2, respectively). Results: In each age-group, almost 1/3 of XLH-patients were classified a s overweight or obese (29.4, 28.7, 27.5, and 36.7% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). Children without a XLH-family history had higher BMI-IOTF at every point of follow-up, compared to those with positive XLH-family history. Similarly, higher BMI-IOTF wa s significantly associated with treatment duration (23.3 ± 4.4 vs 23.8 ± 3.8 vs 25.2 ± 4.5 kg/m2, for subjects with treatment duration of 10 years, respectively, P for trend = 0.025). Multiple regression analysis confirmed an association of treatment durati on and lack of XLH-family history with higher BMI-IOTF. Conclusion: One out of three of XLH-children have phenotypically unfavourable metabolic profile expressed as increased prevalence of overweight or obesi ty in comparison to general population. Both the lack of XLH family history and the duration of treatment increase the risk of higher BMI-IOTF. BMI should be carefully monitored in children, and later in adults, with XLH.

Keywords

• x-linked hypophosphatemia
• rickets
• phosphorus
• overweight
• obesity