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Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
Published on: February 20, 2017
Left atrial diameters in overweight children with normal blood pressure
Jeong Jin Yu1, Hee Hyun Yeom, Sochung Chung
1Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pediatrist@medimail.co.kr
Insights
Overweight children show increased left atrial (LA) diameter. Body mass index and systolic blood pressure are key factors influencing LA size in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern with potential cardiovascular implications.
- Left atrial (LA) size is an indicator of cardiovascular health.
- Normotensive overweight children may be at risk for subclinical cardiac changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify left atrial (LA) diameter in normotensive, overweight children.
- To identify independent predictors of LA diameter in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study compared 22 overweight children with 18 healthy controls.
- Echocardiography assessed LA diameter, left ventricular (LV) geometry, and function.
- Multiple regression analysis identified factors associated with LA diameter.
Main Results:
- Overweight children exhibited significantly larger maximal, middle, and minimal LA diameters compared to controls.
- Body mass index (BMI) was a strong independent correlate of all LA diameter measures (R² values ranging from 0.70 to 0.74).
- Systolic blood pressure also independently correlated with LA diameter, though to a lesser extent (R² values ranging from 0.03 to 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Left atrial (LA) diameter is enlarged in normotensive overweight children.
- Increased body mass index (BMI) and elevated systolic blood pressure are significant independent determinants of LA diameter in this pediatric cohort.
Objective:
To measure left atrial (LA) diameter in normotensive, overweight children and to determine the variables that independently influence LA diameters.
Study Design:
A cross-sectional study on 22 overweight children (age, 13.40 +/- 1.22 years) and 18 control children (age, 13.40 +/- 2.19 years) was performed. LA diameter, left ventricular (LV) geometry, and LV systolic/diastolic function were measured through echocardiography. Data were compared between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis, with LA diameter as dependent variable, was conducted.
Results:
In the overweight group, LV diastolic dimension, LV mass index, peak S, S/D ratio, Am, maximal LA diameter (34.1 mm vs 25.4 mm), middle LA diameter (26.9 mm vs 18.1 mm), and minimal LA diameter (22.5 mm vs 16.1 mm) were increased and Em/Am ratio was decreased. In multiple regression analysis, body mass index (R(2) = 0.7040, 0.7085, 0.7406 in respective maximal, middle, and minimal LA diameter) and systolic blood pressure (R(2) = 0.0540, 0.0477, 0.030 in respective maximal, middle, and minimal LA diameter) were significant independent correlates of all three measures of LA diameter.
Conclusions:
LA diameter in normotensive overweight children is increased. Body mass index and systolic blood pressure were significant correlates of LA diameter.
