Effect of Obesity on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Children

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to asses two dimensional, M-Mode, conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle and to evaluate the effects of antropometric and biochemical factors on these parameters in obese and normal weight children. Patients and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 60 obese and 60 nonobese children aged 8-15 years. Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle were measured in all subjects and investigated the relationship with anthropometric and biochemical factors. Results: Waist circumference, body mass index-Z (BMI-Z) score, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting glucose, insulin concentrations, and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index were signifi cantly higher, whereas high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) concentration was signifi cantly lower in the obese than in the non-obese group. Mitral annulus septal E' and E'/A', mitral annulus lateral E' and E'/A', anterior E' and E'/A', inferior E' and E'/A' values were signifi cantly lower, whereas mitral E/septal E' and mitral E/lateral E' values were signifi cantly higher in obese than in non-obese subjects. Most of the tissue Doppler parameters were correlated with waist circumference, BMI-Z score, fasting blood glucose, HOMA, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum insulin levels, triglyceride and HDL. Waist circumference and BMI-Z score were decisive for some tissue Doppler parameters. Conclusion: Left ventricular diastolic functions are impaired in obese children compared to that of their peers. Although there were correlation between diastolic dysfunction parameters and risk factors, obesity itself is related with reduction of left ventricular diastolic functions.