Evaluation of cardiovascular system and determination of cardiometabolic risk using novel biomarkers in childhood obesity

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a metabolic disorder that is defined as excessive increase in body fat tissue. Early recognition of obesity in children is essential to prevent complications that may occur in both childhood and adulthood. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess cardiometabolic risk and to investigate the association between novel biomarkers and cardiovascular disease in obese children. Methods: This research was performed between June 2014 and January 2015 in the Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine. Fifty obese children and, 29 healthy children were included in the study. Fasting levels of serum lipids, glucose and insulin, serum copeptin, BNP, and ADM were measured. Thickness of main CIMT and EAT were assessed with 2D echocardiogram. M-mode echocardiographic measurements, mitral and tricuspid valve measurements with PDE, and tricuspid and interventricular septum measurements with TDE were performed in both groups. Treadmill stress testing was performed in the same patient group. Results: Levels of total cholesterol and LDL were significantly higher in obese group. Serum BNP and serum ADM levels were significantly lower in obese group. Left ventricular mass index, CIMT and EAT were statistically higher in obese group. Left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, interventricular septum diameter, posterior wall thickness were significantly higher in obese group than in control group. Time to reach target heart rate in treadmill stress testing was significantly shorter in obese group than in control group. Conclusion: Childhood obesity is associated with significant changes in the myocardial structure based on echocardiography. Thickness of carotid intima-media and epicardial fat tissue can be used as predictive markers of atherosclerosis in obese children. Our study demonstrated that exercise capacity is significantly lower, and hemodynamic response to exercise is defective in obese children. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.