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Intima-media thickness and arterial function in obese and non-obese children
Heidi Weberruß1, Raphael Pirzer2, Birgit Böhm1
1Institute of Preventive Pediatrics, Technische Universität München, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62, Campus D, 80992 Munich, Germany.
Insights
Childhood obesity increases cardiovascular risk, particularly in girls, leading to stiffer arteries. Body Mass Index (BMI) significantly impacts arterial stiffness but not carotid intima-media thickness or compliance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiology
- Vascular biology
- Obesity research
Background:
- Obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor, promoting atherosclerosis.
- Subclinical atherosclerosis can be assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and distensibility.
- Childhood obesity rates are rising, necessitating investigation into early vascular changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare vascular parameters in obese versus normal-weight children.
- To investigate the influence of obesity on carotid artery cIMT and distensibility.
- To determine sex-specific effects of childhood obesity on vascular health.
Main Methods:
- Compared cIMT and distensibility in 46 obese children (7-17 years) with 46 sex- and age-matched normal-weight controls.
- Measured cIMT and distensibility using B- and M-mode ultrasound.
- Assessed arterial distensibility via arterial compliance (AC), elastic modulus (Ep), stiffness index β (β), and pulse wave velocity β (PWV β).
Main Results:
- Obese girls exhibited significantly stiffer arteries (higher Ep, β, PWV β) than normal-weight girls.
- No significant differences in arterial stiffness were found between obese and normal-weight boys.
- Multiregression analysis revealed Body Mass Index (BMI) significantly influenced Ep, β, and PWV β, but not cIMT or AC.
Conclusions:
- Obese girls may face a higher cardiovascular risk due to increased arterial stiffness compared to normal-weight girls.
- BMI negatively impacts arterial stiffness parameters (Ep, β, PWV β) in children.
- Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial compliance were not significantly affected by BMI in this cohort.
Background:
Obesity is an independent cardiovascular risk factor that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Subclinical forms of the disease can be assessed via sonographic measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and distensibility - both may already be altered in childhood. As childhood obesity increases to an alarming extent, this study compares vascular data of obese with normal weight boys and girls to investigate the influence of obesity on cIMT and distensibility of the carotid arteries.
Methods:
cIMT and distensibility of 46 obese children (27 girls) aged 7-17 years were compared with measures of 46 sex- and age-matched normal weight controls. cIMT and distensibility were measured by B- and M-mode ultrasound and expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS). Arterial distensibility was defined by arterial compliance (AC), elastic modulus (Ep), stiffness index β (β), and local pulse wave velocity β (PWV β).
Results:
Obese girls had significantly stiffer arteries compared with normal weight girls (Ep SDS 0.64 ± 1.24 vs. 0 ± 1.06, β SDS 0.6 ± 1.17 vs. -0.01 ± 1.06 p < .01, PWV β 0.54 ± 1.2 vs. -0.12 ± 1.05 p < .05). No significant differences were observed for boys. In multiregression analysis, BMI significantly influenced Ep, β and PWV β but not cIMT and AC.
Conclusions:
Obese girls seemed to be at higher cardiovascular risk than boys, expressed by stiffer arteries in obese girls compared with normal weight girls. Overall, BMI negatively influenced parameters of arterial stiffness (Ep, β and PWV β) but not compliance or cIMT.
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