Obesity is Associated with Increased Left Ventricular Mass in Children

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a global program that is increasing worldwide and associates with high morbidity and mortality. Increase left ventricular mass is a target organ damage that is related to increase in blood pressure. Some evidence suggests that obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of increase left ventricular mass. Methods: This study was a cross sectional observational study conducted in King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) A Sample of 67 children with different ages was recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic. Obesity was defined using the Center for disease control (CDC) charts for Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity defined as BMI weight more than 95th percentile, overweight defined as BMI between 85th to 94th percentile and normal body weight defined as BMI between 5th to 84th percentiles According to the BMI obtained, the study sample was then divided into two subgroups; Normal weight for age group and overweight obese group. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular mass index were assessed and measured with 2D echocardiography along with the ejection fraction percentages. Results: Only 59 children (24 males = 40.68% and 35 females = 59.32) were included and the sample were divided into two groups (normal body weight group which constitutes 42.37% of the sample and obese/overweight group which constitutes the remainder 57.63%).The mean (SD) of LV mass index in systole g/m2 was statistically significantly greater in the Obese/Overweight group 82.70 (21.86) compared to the Normal body weight group 69.85 (16.64), t(57) = 2.481 and p = 0.016. The mean difference was 12.85 with [95% CI: 2.48 to 23.21]. The mean (SD) of LV mass index in diastole g/m2 was statistically significantly greater in the Obese/Overweight group 61.57 (15.72) compared to the Normal body weight group 52.05 (15.69), t(57) = 2.309 and p = 0.025. The mean difference was 9.51 with [95% CI: 1.26 to 17.76]. Conclusion: Obesity associates with increase left ventricular mass index in systole and diastole.