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Aortic and pulmonary artery stiffness and cardiac function in children at risk for obesity

Ragab A Mahfouz1, Ashraf Dewedar, Amr Abdelmoneim

  • 1Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. dr.ragabcardio@hotmail.com

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|June 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children at risk for obesity show increased aortic stiffness and pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS), along with subclinical heart dysfunction. Early weight management is crucial for these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is linked to cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Being at risk for overweight is defined by a body mass index (BMI) between the 85th and 94th percentiles for age and sex.
  • Early identification of cardiovascular changes in at-risk children is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate aortic and pulmonary artery stiffness in children at risk for obesity.
  • To assess left and right ventricular function in children at risk for obesity.
  • To identify cardiovascular risk markers in children at risk for overweight.

Main Methods:

  • Compared 56 children at risk for obesity with 40 healthy weight controls.
  • Assessed fasting blood levels of glucose, lipids, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
  • Evaluated left and right ventricular function using tissue Doppler and measured aortic and pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS).

Main Results:

  • Children at risk for obesity exhibited significantly increased aortic stiffness and PAS (P < 0.001).
  • Subclinical left and right ventricular dysfunction was observed in the at-risk group (P < 0.001).
  • Higher hs-CRP levels (P < 0.01) and waist circumference were key predictors of arterial stiffness.

Conclusions:

  • Children at risk for obesity present with elevated aortic and pulmonary artery stiffness and subclinical ventricular dysfunction.
  • These cardiovascular abnormalities correlate with increased hs-CRP levels.
  • Weight control strategies are essential for both obese children and those at risk for overweight to prevent long-term cardiovascular issues.
Abstract

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