Obese children show increased intimal wall thickness and decreased pulse wave velocity
Frida Dangardt1, Walter Osika, Reinhard Volkmann
1Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. frida.dangardt@klinfys.gu.se
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to early vascular changes, particularly in females, showing increased radial artery intimal thickness. Obese youth also exhibit lower pulse wave velocity, possibly due to vasodilation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Childhood obesity increases the risk of adult cardiovascular disease.
- Early detection of vascular changes in obese youth is crucial.
- High-resolution ultrasound allows detailed assessment of arterial layers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intimal thickness (IT), intimal-medial thickness (IMT), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in obese children and adolescents.
- To compare vascular parameters between obese and lean subjects.
- To identify specific arterial segments affected by obesity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-resolution ultrasound to measure IT and IMT of radial arteries (RA) and dorsal pedal arteries (DPA).
- Measured pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 33 obese and 18 lean children/adolescents.
- Analyzed differences in vascular parameters between groups and correlations with clinical factors.
Main Results:
- Obese children showed increased RA IT, primarily in females.
- No significant differences in RA IMT or medial thickness were observed.
- DPA IT correlated inversely with HDL cholesterol in obese subjects.
- PWV was significantly lower in obese (6.2 m/s) versus lean (7.0 m/s) individuals.
Conclusions:
- Obese children, especially females, exhibit increased radial artery intimal thickness.
- Lower PWV in obese youth may indicate generalized vasodilation.
- These findings highlight early vascular alterations in childhood obesity.
Objective:
Childhood obesity confers an increased risk of vascular changes and adult cardiovascular disease. Using a high-resolution ultrasound technique that enables separation of intimal and medial layers, we examined the intimal thickness (IT) and intimal-medial thickness (IMT) of radial (RA) and dorsal pedal (DPA) arteries and the pulse wave velocity (PWV) in overweight/obese children and adolescents and in healthy subjects.
Methods And Results:
IT and IMT of RA and DPA and PWV were measured in 33 obese children and adolescents (13.9+/-1.6 years) and in 18 matched lean controls (14.3+/-2.2). Increased RA IT was found in the obese group, whereas no differences in RA IMT or medial thickness were observed. Obese females accounted for the entire difference in RA IT (P=0.04). DPA IT was inversely correlated with HDL cholesterol in the obese group (-0.56, P=0.0089). PWV was lower in the obese group than in the lean group (6.2+/-0.8 versus 7.0+/-0.9 m s(-1), respectively; P=0.001).
Conclusions:
Obese children and adolescents, primarily females, present with increased RA IT. The decreased PWV in the obese versus lean subjects might reflect general vasodilatation.
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