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Published on: September 29, 2017
Interaction between myocardial and vascular changes in obese children: a pilot study
Laurens P Koopman1, Brian W McCrindle, Cameron Slorach
1Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
Obese children with lipid abnormalities exhibit impaired cardiac function and early vascular changes, indicating abnormal ventricular-vascular coupling. These findings highlight the interconnectedness of cardiovascular health in pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Obesity in children is linked to vascular and myocardial structural/functional changes.
- Limited data exist on the relationship between these vascular and myocardial changes.
- Investigating these interconnections is crucial for understanding pediatric cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vascular and myocardial changes in obese children with lipid abnormalities.
- To examine the interactions between vascular and myocardial parameters in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, prospective observational study involving 21 obese and 27 normal-weight children (aged 14 ± 2 years).
- Cardiac assessment included geometric parameters and myocardial deformation (strain/strain rate) via echocardiography.
- Vascular assessment included carotid intima-media thickness, pulse-wave velocity, arterial stiffness, and ventricular-arterial elastance.
Main Results:
- Obese children showed reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic radial and longitudinal strain, and early diastolic strain rate.
- Increased carotid intima-media thickness, faster pulse-wave velocity, and lower arterial distensibility were observed in obese children.
- A lower ratio of arterial elastance to LV end-systolic elastance (ventricular-arterial coupling) was found in obese children, with correlations between vascular and myocardial parameters.
Conclusions:
- Obese children with lipid abnormalities present with reduced LV systolic and diastolic deformation, early vascular changes, and increased arterial stiffness.
- These findings suggest abnormal ventricular-vascular interaction in pediatric obesity.
- Further investigation into these interactions is warranted.
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