Central adiposity and left ventricular mass in obese children

Background: The prevalence of children obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. Most of metabolic and cardiovascular morbidities characteristic of adult obesity are likely to originate in childhood; therefore, early identification of these alterations is warranted.There is strong evidence that left ventricular (LV) mass is high in normotensive obese adults, and that it is closely associated with body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance (IR). Aim of our study is to assess relation between central obesity and cardiac mass in obese children.Subject and Methods: The study population included 56 obese and 36 non-obese children as a control. All patients had BMI/ BMI SDS calculation, waist/hip ratio and waist/hip ratio SDS, blood pressure measurement, echocardiography for measurement of cardiac mass. Results: Obese children showed higher BMI, Waist/hip ratio and HOMA-IR. Obese group exhibited higher levels than control group of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, while a lower value of HDL cholesterol.RV MI (right ventricular mass index), LV MI (left ventricular mass index), LAD (left atrial diameter), SWT (septal wall thickness) all are higher in obese children comparing to non-obese one. Among obese subjects strong correlation between BMI SDS and PWT was found. Conclusion: Cardiac mass is higher in obese in children in comparison to non obese children.