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Main Article Content
The importance of carotid artery stiffness and increased intimamedia thickness in obese children
Abstract
advances during adulthood.
Aim. We aimed to study the effect of obesity on main carotid
artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness.
Material and methods. A total of 78 children were studied from
October 2010 to February 2011. They were divided into obese (n=42,
group 1) and normal (n=36, group 2). All children were subjected
to physical examination, routine biochemical and haematological
analysis, carotid ultrasonography and echocardiographic
measurements. A detailed medical history was obtained. Body
mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing participants’ weight in
kilograms by the square of their height in metres. Stiffness index â
was calculated using blood pressure and diameter of the systolic
and diastolic artery. Intima-media thickness was also measured.
Results. The mean age of the obese and normal (control) groups
was 10.12±2.12 years and 9.78±1.78 years, respectively. Weight, BMI,
and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly
higher in the obese group (all p<0.001). In terms of arterial stiffness
and CIMT measurements, all parameters were higher in the obese
group than the control (p<0.001). There was a relationship between
the degree of obesity and CIMT or stiffness index â. In addition,
dilatation and hypertrophy levels in the left ventricle were higher
in obese children.
Conclusions. Obese children with risk factors for multiple
atherosclerosis could have increased CIMT dimensions and,
consequently, should be screened for these risks. Ultrasonographic
CIMT and arterial stiffness measurements can detect vascular
damage at an early stage of development in children with
cardiovascular risk factors.
