title: Association between the corrected QT interval and carotid artery intima-media thickness in obese children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sudden death has been reported in asymptomatic obese adults and the mechanism is unclear. In recent years, obesity has shown a dramatic increase in children and this enhances the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is repolarization abnormality and any potential risk factor such as increase in intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery for corrected QT (QTc) prolongation among obese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 obese children, 30 of which had features of metabolic syndrome (MS), and 23 age-matched controls were included in the study. QTc interval was calculated at rest. The IMT of both common carotid arteries (CCA) was measured. The relationship between QTc, IMT of right and left CCA and insulin sensitivity indices were evaluated in the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The QTc interval of the children with simple exogenous obesity (SEO) were longer than in the controls (p=0.024). The IMT of both carotid arteries of the obese girls and boys with and without MS were higher than the controls (p=<0.001). The QTc was significantly affected by the parameters pertaining to the right carotid artery IMT, to chronologic age and HDL-C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since obesity may cause subclinical atherosclerotic disease regardless of sex, obese children must be followed closely for early cardiovascular problems.
authors.affiliation: Göztepe Educational and Research Hospital, Clinics of Pediatric Endocrine, İstanbul, Turkey. aylaguven@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Özgen
authors.forename: Olcay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Güngör
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baysal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*