Cardiac dimensions and function in children with obesity.
BACKGROUND
Obesity can cause alterations in cardiac dimensions and function. Cardiac dysfunction during childhood may affect the quality of life in adulthood. This study evaluated left ventricular (LV) dimensions, systolic function and left ventricular myocardial performance index (LMPI) in children with obesity.


RESULTS
Thirty-three obese children with mean age of 9.8 +/- 2.4 years, weight 61.3 +/- 20.8 kg, BMI 29.5 +/- 5.8 kg/m2 and percentage of actual weight to ideal body weight for height (%IBW) 170 +/- 25%, underwent echocardiography to assess LV dimensions, systolic and global functions. There were 2, 14 and 17 children with mild (<or= 140% IBW), moderate (141-160% IBW) and severe obesity (>160%IBW), respectively. The mean ratio of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) to predicted LVEDD expressed in percentage (%LVEDD) was 98.3 +/- 7.8%, the left ventricular shortening fraction (LVFS) was 37.5 +/- 4.9% and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 67.5 +/- 5.9%. All were within normal range except that 2 children (6%) had mild LV dilatation. The mean LMPI was 0.35 +/- 0.08. However, 11 children (33%) had abnormal LMPI (>0.4). The severity of obese children did not correlate with the global LV dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
The left ventricular dimensions and systolic function in children with obesity were essentially normal. LMPI which indicates LV global function was found to be abnormal in 33% of children with obesity and may be used to do early detection of LV global dysfunction.
Khositseth
Anant
A
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. alaks@diamond.mahidol.ac.th
Suthutvoravut
Umaporn
U
Chongviriyaphan
Nalinee
N
Ruangkanchanasetr
Suwanna
S
D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*