20 People who reported taking any hypertension-lowering medication were automatically classified as hypertensive. Blood was drawn following an overnight fast (10h) and processed according to standard procedures in the Biochemistry Department,

St James’s Hospital, Dublin. Insulin level was measured by using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Elecsys Insulin Assayb). Enzymatic, colorimetric assays (Roche/Hitachi cobas c systemsb) were used to measure fasting glucose, TC, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was calculated using the Friedewald equation.21 High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) level was measured by using particle-enhanced Angiogenesis inhibitor immunoturbidimetric assay (Roche/Hitachi cobas c systems). TC/HDL-C ratio was also calculated. The

MetS was defined according to the most recent Joint Interim Statement.18 To evaluate insulin resistance, the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) index22 was used. Insulin resistance was defined by the 75th percentile of the HOMA-IR index of the participants being studied find more (HOMA-IR index=2.51).23 The presence of elevated levels of TC, LDL-C, triglycerides, and low HDL-C was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III.24 The following cutoffs were applied: hypercholesterolemia ≥5.2 mmol/L, high LDL-C ≥3.4mmol/L, hypertriglyceridemia ≥1.7mmol/L, and low HDL-C <1.0mmol/L. People who reported taking any cholesterol medication were automatically classified as having abnormal TC, TC/HDL-C ratio, HDL-C, and LDL-C. Fasting glucose was categorized according to the cutoff point identified by the Joint Interim Statement on the MetS (hyperglycemia ≥100mg/dL).18 High-risk CRP was categorized as >0.3mg/dL.25 The distribution of the

data was Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase checked for normality by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The logarithm function was applied to TC/HDL-C ratio and HOMA-IR index to transform these data to a normal distribution. Means and SDs were computed for each of the normally distributed continuous variables. Medians and interquartile ranges were computed for skewed data. Prevalence data are presented as percentages. Differences between continuous variables with a normal distribution were determined by using independent t tests. Differences between continuous variables with a skewed distribution were determined by using Mann-Whitney U tests. Pearson’s chi-square test was used for comparison of independent groups of categorical data. Pearson’s partial correlation test (controlled for gender) was used to examine correlations between GMFCS level and each anthropometric measure.