Association between the corrected QT interval and carotid artery intima-media thickness in obese children
Ayla Güven1, Tolga Özgen, Olcay Güngör
1Göztepe Educational and Research Hospital, Clinics of Pediatric Endocrine, İstanbul, Turkey. aylaguven@yahoo.com
Insights
Obese children show prolonged QTc intervals and increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, indicating early cardiovascular risks. Close monitoring is essential for these children to prevent future heart problems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity is rising, increasing cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- Sudden death in obese adults is linked to unclear mechanisms, highlighting the need for pediatric research.
- Obesity in children may lead to early cardiovascular complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate repolarization abnormalities in obese children.
- To assess carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) as a risk factor for corrected QT (QTc) prolongation.
- To identify potential risk factors for cardiovascular issues in obese children.
Main Methods:
- Studied 60 obese children (30 with metabolic syndrome) and 23 controls.
- Measured resting QTc interval and common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT).
- Analyzed relationships between QTc, IMT, and insulin sensitivity indices.
Main Results:
- Obese children had significantly longer QTc intervals than controls (p=0.024).
- Obese children exhibited higher carotid artery IMT compared to controls (p<0.001).
- QTc was significantly influenced by right carotid IMT, age, and HDL-C levels.
Conclusions:
- Obesity contributes to subclinical atherosclerosis in children, irrespective of sex.
- Obese children require vigilant monitoring for early detection of cardiovascular problems.
- Findings underscore the importance of managing childhood obesity to mitigate long-term cardiac risks.
Objective:
Sudden death has been reported in asymptomatic obese adults and the mechanism is unclear. In recent years, obesity has shown a dramatic increase in children and this enhances the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is repolarization abnormality and any potential risk factor such as increase in intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery for corrected QT (QTc) prolongation among obese children.
Methods:
A total of 60 obese children, 30 of which had features of metabolic syndrome (MS), and 23 age-matched controls were included in the study. QTc interval was calculated at rest. The IMT of both common carotid arteries (CCA) was measured. The relationship between QTc, IMT of right and left CCA and insulin sensitivity indices were evaluated in the study group.
Results:
The QTc interval of the children with simple exogenous obesity (SEO) were longer than in the controls (p=0.024). The IMT of both carotid arteries of the obese girls and boys with and without MS were higher than the controls (p=<0.001). The QTc was significantly affected by the parameters pertaining to the right carotid artery IMT, to chronologic age and HDL-C.
Conclusion:
Since obesity may cause subclinical atherosclerotic disease regardless of sex, obese children must be followed closely for early cardiovascular problems.