ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MARKERS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK IN OBESE CHILDREN
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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Published on: September 27, 2024
Karla Cristina Malta Costa1, Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo1, Patrícia Silveira Silva1
1Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Insights
Childhood obesity significantly elevates risks for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Obese children show poorer ultrasonographical and lab markers, indicating increased disease susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Obesity is linked to increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
- Early identification of risk markers in children is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of obesity on ultrasonographical markers of metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk in children.
- To compare ultrasonographical and laboratory parameters between obese and normal-weight children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 80 children (40 obese, 40 normal-weight) aged 6-10 years.
- Assessed parameters included blood pressure, body fat, metabolic rate, lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR, QUICKI), and brachial artery ultrasonography (FMD, PI-C).
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate.
- Key metabolic and cardiovascular risk markers were worsened in obese children, including elevated total cholesterol, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR.
- Ultrasonographical findings revealed increased brachial artery diameter and impaired flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and pulsatility index change (PI-C) in obese children.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity is associated with adverse changes in ultrasonographical and laboratory markers.
- These findings suggest that obesity exacerbates metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk in children.
- Early detection and management of childhood obesity are essential to mitigate long-term health consequences.
Objective:
To evaluate whether the obesity alters ultrasonographical markers of metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk in children.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study evaluated 80 children aged between 6 and 10 years, comparing 40 obese with 40 normal children. The following parameters were assessed: weight; height; body mass index; arterial blood pressure; body fat; basal metabolic rate; HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol; fasting insulin and glucose; quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI); homeostasis model of assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); basal diameter of the brachial artery; brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) and of pulsatility index change (PI-C).
Results:
Significant differences were observed between obese vs. non-obese children: systolic blood pressure (97.7±8.4 vs. 89.0±5.8 mmHg; p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (64.3±7.9 vs. 52.9±5.1 mmHg; p<0.01), proportion of body fat (45.1±5.9 vs. 21.3±6.0%; p<0.01), basal metabolic rate (1216.1±102.1 vs. 1072.9±66.4 Kcal; p<0.01), total cholesterol (164.7±25.2 vs. 153.4±15.8 mg/dL; p=0.03), fasting insulin (7.1±5.2 vs. 2.8±1.8 pIU/mL; p<0.01), HOMA-IR (1.5±1.1 vs. 0.6±0.4; p<0.01), basal diameter of the brachial artery (2.5±0.3 vs. 2.1±0.3 mm; p<0.01); PI-C (-15.5±27.2 vs. -31.9±15.5%; p<0.01), decreased QUICKI (0.4±0.05 vs. 0.4±0.03; p<0.01), and FMD (6.6±3.2 vs. 15.6±7.3%; p<0.01).
Conclusions:
Obesity worsens ultrasonographical and laboratorial markers of metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk in children.
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