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Updated: May 18, 2026
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
[Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function in normotansive obese children: a comparative analysis
Ayşe Esin Kibar1, Feyza Ayşenur Paç, Mehmet Burhan Oflaz
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Education And Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to early left ventricular (LV) structural and functional changes. Echocardiography can detect subclinical LV myocardial dysfunction in overweight and obese children, aiding in early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Obesity Medicine
Background:
- Overweight and obesity in children are increasing public health concerns.
- These conditions are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and potential cardiac remodeling.
- Early detection of cardiac changes is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural and functional alterations in left ventricular (LV) function in normotensive overweight and obese children.
- To assess the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and LV changes.
- To identify potential markers for subclinical myocardial dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 30 overweight children, 30 obese children, and 50 healthy controls.
- Echocardiographic examinations (standard and pulsed wave Doppler) were performed on all groups.
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was conducted in the obese group.
Main Results:
- Overweight and obese children exhibited significantly increased left atrial volume, LV dimensions, wall thickness, and mass compared to controls.
- Despite normal blood pressure, obese children showed elevated readings.
- Diastolic dysfunction markers, including decreased transmitral E/A and pulmonary vein S/D ratios, were observed in overweight and obese groups.
- BMI positively correlated with LV mass and duration of obesity, and negatively with diastolic function parameters.
Conclusions:
- Subclinical left ventricular (LV) myocardial dysfunction is present in overweight and obese children.
- Pulmonary vein pulsed wave Doppler can be a valuable tool for detecting diastolic dysfunction in the pre-obese stage.
- Early identification of LV changes in pediatric obesity is essential for preventing long-term cardiovascular complications.
Objectives:
The purpose of our study was to determine structural and functional changes on left ventricular function (LV) according to body mass index (BMI) in normotansive overweight and obese children.
Study Design:
Thirty normotansive overweight children (group 2; mean age: 13.2 ± 2.1 years, BMI: 25-30 kg/m²), 30 obese children (group 3; mean age: 13.3 ± 2.0 years, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), and 50 healthy controls (mean age: 13.2 ± 1.8 years, BMI: 18-24.9 kg/m²) were included in this study. Continuous ambulatory pressure was monitored in the obese group, while standard and pulsed wave (PW) Doppler echocardiographic examinations were evaluated in all three study groups.
Results:
In overweight and obese children, left atrial volume, left atrial/aortic root diameter ratio, LV interventricular septum, LV posterior wall thickness, LV end-diastolic diameter and volume, and LV mass were significantly higher than those children in the control group (p<0.01). Blood pressure was within the normal range but was increased in the obese groups. Transmitral E/A and pulmonary vein (PV) systolic/diastolic velocity (S/D) ratios were decreased, but E-wave deceleration time, PVA velocities, and the end-diastolic distance from the mitral annulus to the LV apex were increased in both obese groups (p<0.05). BMI was significantly correlated with duration of obesity and LV mass (r=0.527, r=0.506, p<0.01, respectively). Significantly negative correlations were found between BMI, Mitral E/A, and PV S/D ratio (r=-0.230, r=-0.577, p<0.01, respectively).
Conclusion:
Subclinical LV myocardial dysfunction was noted in obese subgroups. Determination of diastolic dysfunction by PV PW Doppler can be useful a pre-obese period.
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