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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Increased coagulation in childhood obesity
Yildiz Dallar Bilge1, Bulent Alioglu, Enver Simşek
1Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to increased blood clotting factors and decreased clot-dissolving factors. This suggests potential endothelial dysfunction in obese children, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Obesity is associated with increased risk of thrombotic events.
- The impact of childhood obesity on the coagulation system requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between childhood obesity and the procoagulant and anticoagulant systems.
- To compare coagulation parameters in obese children versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 51 obese and 32 normal-weighted children (ages 5-16).
- Recorded anthropometric measures, comorbidities, and medication history.
- Performed complete blood counts and assessed procoagulant and anticoagulant factors.
Main Results:
- Obese children showed higher erythrocyte hemoglobin, erythrocyte distribution width, and platelet counts.
- Elevated levels of fibrinogen, thrombin time, Factor VIII, Factor IX, Factor X, and von Willebrand factor were observed in obese children.
- Antithrombin levels were significantly lower in obese children compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Obese children exhibit a procoagulant state with reduced anticoagulant activity.
- Increased plasma procoagulant factors suggest potential endothelial activity in obese children.
- Further research into endothelial function in pediatric obesity is recommended.
Objective:
This study aims to explore the relation between childhood obesity and procoagulant and anticoagulant systems.
Method:
Fifty-one obese children and 32 normal-weighted children with similar age and gender distribution and between ages of 5 and 16 years were recruited to the study. Antropometric measures of all subjects, existence of any accompanying disease, and medication histories had been recorded. Full blood count, procoagulant, and anticoagulant coagulation tests were run for all subjects.
Results:
When hematologic variables of obese children were compared with those of healthy controls, it was found that average erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte distribution width, and platelet count of obese children are significantly higher than healthy control group. It was also found that fibrinogen, thrombin time, factor (F) VIII, FIX, FX, and von Willebrand factor levels of obese children are higher than healthy control group. By contrast, antithrombin levels of obese children are found to be lower.
Conclusion:
In our study, we found that there is a procoagulant increase in the coagulation system activity of obese children compared to non-obese healthy children, whereas there is a significant decrease in anticoagulant system. These changes occurred in obese patients, especially higher levels of plasma procoagulant factors such as fibrinogen, FVIII, FIX, and von Willebrand factor, lead us to think that there is an activity in these patients at endothelial level. Further studies are needed on endothelial activity of obese children.
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