Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Surgical Placement of Catheters for Long-term Cardiovascular Exercise Testing in Swine
Published on: February 9, 2016
Biophysical properties of the aorta and left ventricle and exercise capacity in obese children
Kevin C Harris1, Hesham A Al Saloos, Astrid M De Souza
1Children's Heart Centre, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. kharris2@cw.bc.ca
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to increased aortic stiffness, indicated by abnormal biophysical properties and elevated pulse wave velocity (PWV). Obese children also show greater left ventricular mass and impaired exercise capacity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pediatric Health
- Biophysics
Background:
- Increased aortic stiffness predicts future cardiovascular events in adults.
- Obesity in adults is associated with arterial disease and heightened aortic stiffness.
- Early detection of arterial changes in obese children is crucial for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between childhood obesity and aortic stiffness.
- To measure the biophysical properties of the aorta in obese children using noninvasive echocardiography.
- To compare arterial properties and cardiac function in obese children versus normal-weight controls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of obese children (n=61) and normal-weight controls (n=55).
- Noninvasive echocardiographic Doppler assessment of pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic impedance (Zi, Zc), elastic modulus (Ep), stiffness index (B index), and peak aortic velocity.
- Measurement of left ventricular (LV) dimensions, cardiac function, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited significantly greater PWV, Zc, B index, Ep, and peak aortic velocity compared to controls.
- Obese children had higher systolic blood pressure, increased LV mass, and altered diastolic properties.
- No correlation was found between lipid levels and aortic biophysical properties; exercise capacity was reduced in obese children.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity is associated with increased aortic stiffness and abnormal aortic biophysical properties.
- Obese children demonstrate early signs of cardiovascular disease, including altered cardiac structure and function.
- PWV may serve as a valuable tool for monitoring arterial disease progression and therapeutic interventions in pediatric obesity.
Abstract:
We sought to determine whether childhood obesity is associated with increased aortic stiffness by measuring the biophysical properties of the aorta in obese children using a noninvasive echocardiographic Doppler method. Increased aortic stiffness is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular events and mortality in adults. Obesity is known to be associated with increased aortic stiffness and arterial disease in adults. We prospectively evaluated a cohort of obese children (n = 61) and compared them to normal-weight controls (n = 55). The anthropometric data were recorded. The pulsewave velocity (PWV), aortic input impedance (Zi), characteristic impedance (Zc), arterial pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), arterial wall stiffness index (B index), and peak aortic velocity were calculated. We correlated our echocardiographic Doppler findings with the lipid levels. We assessed the left ventricular (LV) dimensions and standard measures of cardiac function. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed on all obese children. Compared to normal-weight children, obese children had a greater PWV, Zc, B index, Ep, and peak aortic velocity. Obese children had greater systolic blood pressure than normal-weight children but no difference in diastolic blood pressure. The LV dimensions and standard measures of cardiac systolic function were similar in the 2 groups, but the obese children had altered diastolic properties. The LV mass was greater in the obese children. No association was found between the lipid levels and the biophysical properties of the aorta. The relative oxygen consumption was 68% predicted in obese children. In conclusion, measures of the biophysical properties of the aorta are already abnormal in obese children, reflecting increased aortic stiffness at this early stage of disease. Obese children also had an increased LV mass, altered diastolic properties, and an abnormal exercise capacity. PWV might be useful in monitoring the progression of arterial disease or the effect of therapeutic interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:29Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...