title: Obesity in adolescence is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension (HTN) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, the association between obesity, HTN or LVH in adolescents has not been studied in a large population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing a database of screening echocardiograms, we assessed for the presence of LVH and HTN (defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 90 mmHg) in obese adolescents (BMI > 30) using univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2072 subjects were identified between the ages of 13-19 years. LVH was significantly more prevalent in obese subjects (47/166 [28.3%] vs. nonobese subjects (99/1612 [6.1%]) with a P-value of <0.001. Using multivariate analysis adjusting for age, gender and blood pressure, obesity remained strongly associated with the presence of LVH (OR 4.51, CI: 2.83-7.19, P < 0.001). Elevated SBP and DBP were also strongly associated with obesity. SBP > 140 was present in 38% of obese subjects (54/142) versus 12.7% of nonobese subjects (172/1, 353). DBP > 90 was present in 10.6% of obese subjects (15/141) of versus 3.1% of nonobese subjects (42/1352). After adjustment for age, gender and LVH, obesity remained independently associated with HTN (for SBP > 140, OR 2.24, CI: 1.46-3.45, P < 0.001, and for DBP > 90, OR 2.10, CI: 1.063-4.17, P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese adolescents have a significantly higher prevalence of HTN and LVH. Our analysis suggests a direct negative effect of obesity on cardiovascular function starting early in teenage years. (Echocardiography 2011;28:150-153).
authors.affiliation: Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. rmova@aol.com`
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Movahed
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strootman
authors.forename: Sudhakar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sattur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult