Associations of Cardiac Structure with Obesity, Blood Pressure, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in African-American Adolescents

To determine if obesity, blood pressure (BP), markers of inflammation, and insulin resistance are associated with cardiac structure in African-American adolescents, a cross–sectional study was performed on a cohort oversampled for high BP and obesity. Measurements included the following: anthropometrics, BP, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) to assess insulin resistance, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and plasma adipokines (adiponectin, interleukin-6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1). Echocardiogram measurements were left-ventricular mass index (LVMI) (g/m^2.7), LV relative wall thickness (LVRWT), left-atrial diameter index [LADI (mm/m)], and LV diastolic time intervals. LADI (r ² = 0.25) was associated with body mass index (BMI) systolic BP (SBP) and female sex. LVMI (r ² = 0.35) variation was associated with BMI SBP, heart rate, age, and male sex. LVRWT (r ² = 0.05) was associated with HOMA. Tissue diastolic intervals were not associated with any risk factor. Inflammatory markers and adipokines were associated with BMI but were not independently associated with any echocardiographic measures. In African-American adolescents, BMI and SBP, but not inflammatory markers or adipokines, are important correlates of LA size and LVM.