Lipid profile and some cardiac functions in children with obesity

BackgroundRisk factors of childhood obesity include; energy intake, positive family history and lifestyle. Obesity is associated with numerous co-morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.ObjectiveTo study serum lipid profile and evaluate the left ventricular systolic and global functions in obese children, and define the preclinical effects of obesity, per se, on myocardial function and cardiovascular system.Patients and methodsThis is a 9-Month prospective controlled study, done in Pediatrics Department Tanta University Hospital. 30 patients were included (24 males, six females); aged 6–15 years with BMI > age and sex specific cut off points. Exclusion criteria included organic causes of obesity, hormonal medications, corticosteroids, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Twenty healthy children age and sex matched were set as the control group. Studied children were subjected to: anthropometric measurements: weight, height and BMI. Echocardiographic evaluation: LVEF, LVFS, LVEDD, predicted LVEDD, % LVEDD, LVM, LVMI and LMPI. Lipid profile assessment: included serum TCh, LDL, TCh/HDL ratio and TG.ResultsThere was highly significant increase in body weight, serum TCh, LVEDD, LVM and LVMI; significant increase in BMI, LDL, HDL, serum TG, TCh/HDL-cholesterol ratio, % LVEDD, predicted LVEDD and LMPI of obese as compared to controls. There was no significant difference between the two studied groups as regards height, LVEF and LVFS. There was significant decrease in HDL in obese patients as compared to the control group.ConclusionsComplete evaluation of cardiac function in obese children should include echocardiography along with LMPI (useful marker for early detection of LV global dysfunction), in combination with measurement of lipid profile.