obesity has been associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and higher CVD morbidity and mortality which manifested already in childhood and adolescence. Objective: evaluating the effect of obesity on cardiac structure and function in normotensive obese children. Subjects: this cross-sectional case control study included 50 obese children divided according to age into 3 groups: Group A included 18 obese children (9 female-9 males) their ages ranged from 3 to 6 years, their mean weight was 34.2±6.97 kg and their mean height was 114±9.12 cm. Group B included 10 obese children (4 females-6 males) their ages ranged from 7 to 9 years, their mean weight was 44.6±9.45kg and their mean height was 129.16±7.82cm. Group C included 22 obese children (6females-16males) their ages ranged from 10 to 15 years, their mean weight was 74.6±6.45 kg and their mean height was 149.16±13.12cm. Blood pressure of 3 groups was within normal range for their ages. Methods: All cases were subjected to through clinical examination, body weight, height, triceps skin folds (TSF) and sub scapular skin folds (SSF) assessments. Blood pressure measurement, laboratory investigation (serum cortical, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins), x-ray head and wrist, and echocardiographic assessment. Results: this study showed that obese children weight was range from 27 to 123 kg, height was ranged from 95 to 172 cm, body mass index (BMI) was ranged from 23.9 to 42.6 obesity index was ranged from 1.44 to 3.07, TSF was ranged from 16.8 to 36.1 cm and SSF was ranged from 14.3 to 29.9 cm. left ventricular mass (LVM) was found to be significantly higher in obese children than in controls in group A and C (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). A significant positive correlation was observed between LVM and both O.I and BMI, also a significant positive correlation was found between LVM and both SSF and TSF. The LVM were higher in males than femles, while B.M.I, O.I, TTS and SSF were higher in females then males. Conclusion: obesity in normotensive obese children is significantly correlated with an increase in LVM and impaired left ventricular systolic function even after controlling for age and blood pressure. Obesity affects LVM and geometry in children as young as 3 years. Further studies are recommended in order to detect the effect of weight reduction on these echocardiographic finding and the relation of these changes with the development of cardiac complications. |
