Obesity is a well established risk factor for cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Our objective was to investigate structural and functional LV abnormalities by echocardiography in obese children.
Forty-six obese and 46 normal children were included in the study. All patients were asymptomatic. Evaluation included EKG, conventional echocardiography and TDI, Strain and strain rate (SR). Demographic data for the obese vs. control groups revealed a median age of 11.5 vs. 12 years, body mass index (BMI) 27 vs. 18, male gender 22 vs. 23. Metabolic syndrome and elevated blood pressure was seen in 30% of obese patients. EKG was normal in both groups. Echocardiography data in obese vs. control groups revealed increased LV mass (p=0.003) and LA dimension (p=0.012). TDI data showed elevated a` (p=0.012), elevated E/e` (p=0.001) and decreased s` (p=0.02) in the septal mitral ring when comparing obese vs. normal children. The TEI index of the LV was abnormal as well (p=0.021). There were no differences in Strain and SR between groups.
Conclusion: Obese children have structural and functional heart abnormalities detected by echocardiography despite the absence of symptoms. Tissue Doppler was useful in detecting early functional involvement. These finding could represent an early stage of the cardiomyopathy reported in obese patients in long term follow-up. Tissue Doppler should be part of the routine evaluation of these patients.