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Increased intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in hypercholesterolemic children
P Pauciullo1, A Iannuzzi, R Sartorio
1Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
Insights
Children over 6 years old with high serum cholesterol levels exhibit increased common carotid intima-media thickness. This finding highlights early cardiovascular changes in pediatric hypercholesterolemia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Vascular Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Background:
- Pediatric hypercholesterolemia is a growing concern.
- Early detection of atherosclerosis markers is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health.
- Childhood cholesterol levels are increasingly recognized as predictors of adult cardiovascular disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in children with hypercholesterolemia.
- To determine if elevated serum cholesterol is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in pediatric populations.
- To identify age-related differences in cIMT in hypercholesterolemic children.
Main Methods:
- B-mode ultrasound imaging was used to measure common carotid intima-media thickness.
- Two groups of children were studied: hypercholesterolemic (serum cholesterol >= 6.4 mmol/L) and control (serum cholesterol < 6.4 mmol/L).
- Statistical analyses, including odds ratios, were performed to assess the significance of cIMT differences and their association with cholesterol levels, age, and sex.
Main Results:
- Hypercholesterolemic children showed significantly higher maximum cIMT (0.50 mm) compared to control children (0.47 mm).
- This difference was statistically significant in children older than 6.2 years.
- The odds ratio for common carotid intima-media thickening was significantly elevated in hypercholesterolemic children, even after controlling for age and sex.
Conclusions:
- Children older than 6 years with serum cholesterol levels >= 6.4 mmol/L demonstrate increased common carotid intima-media thickness.
- Elevated cholesterol in childhood is associated with subclinical vascular changes, indicating early atherosclerosis.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring cholesterol in children and implementing early interventions.
Abstract:
Common carotid intima-media thickness was measured by B-mode ultrasound imaging in 46 children (mean age, 7.4 years) with serum cholesterol > or = 6.4 mmol/L (mean, 8.25 mmol/L) and in 48 children (mean age, 6.4 years) with serum cholesterol < 6.4 mmol/L (mean, 4.60 mmol/L). Maximum thickness was significantly higher in hypercholesterolemic children than in control children (0.50 versus 0.47 mm, P = .007). Subgroup analysis showed that only in children > 6.2 years old (the median of all the children's ages) was maximum thickness significantly higher in hypercholesterolemic children than in control children (0.51 versus 0.48 mm, P = .014). The odds ratio (OR) of common carotid intima-media thickening (maximum thickness of the far wall higher than the 95th percentile of the control group, 0.51 mm) between patients and control subjects was statistically significant both in univariate analysis (OR, 6.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 32.3; P = .025) and after age (OR, 5.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 to 32.4; P = .039) and sex (OR, 7.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 41.2; P = .020) were controlled for. Children > 6 years old with serum cholesterol > or = 6.4 mmol/L show increased thickness of the common carotid intima-media.