3.1.3. Metabolic Evolution

Metabolic data at the end of follow-up were available for 451 patients and showed a significant decrease in HOMA index (−0.35 ± 2.07; *p* < 0.001) with a positive correlation between the parallel decrease in HOMA and BMI-SDS (r = +0.15; *p* < 0.01). This was also observed for triglyceride (−4.99 ± 53.54 mg/dL; *p* < 0.01/r = +0.12; *p* < 0.01) and LDL cholesterol levels (−4.89 ± 17.50 mg/dL; *p* < 0.001/r = +0.19; *p* < 0.001) whereas HDL cholesterol levels increased at the end of follow-up (+2.81 ± 8.72 mg/dL; *p* < 0.001/r = −0.20 with a change in BMI; *p* < 0.001). Despite no significant differences in mean uric acid levels between baseline and the end of follow-up, a direct correlation also existed between the change in uric acid levels and BMI SDS (r = +0.12; *p* < 0.05) as well as a decrease in the percentage of patients showing hyperuricemia (12.6% at the end of follow-up vs. 17.8% at baseline; *p* < 0.05).
