Serum uric acid and left ventricular geometry pattern in obese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Metabolic Syndrome Research
• Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Background:

• The role of metabolic syndrome (MetSy) components in subclinical organ damage in obese children requires further study.
• Serum uric acid (SUA) is an emerging non-traditional risk factor associated with obesity, MetSy, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and left ventricular geometry patterns in obese children.
• To differentiate these associations in obese children with and without metabolic syndrome.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 73 obese children (median age 15 years).
• Evaluated parameters included BMI, glucose, lipids, insulin, HOMA index, SUA, blood pressure, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and relative wall thickness (RWT).

Main Results:

• Serum uric acid (SUA) was independently associated with increased relative wall thickness (RWT), indicating concentric left ventricular geometry in the overall cohort of obese children.
• No significant association was found between SUA and LVMI or RWT in the subgroup of metabolically unhealthy obese children.

Conclusions:

• Serum uric acid (SUA) is an independent risk factor for developing concentric left ventricular geometry in obese children.
• These findings highlight SUA as a potential therapeutic target for managing cardiovascular risk in obese children, warranting further investigation.