Arterial stiffness and endothelial function in obese children and adolescents and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is related to an increase in the rates of cardiovascular disease.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the impact of obesity on vascular function (endothelial function and arterial stiffness) in children and adolescents and its relationship to cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
In obese (OB) children and adolescents, endothelial function and arterial stiffness were evaluated by a pulse plethysmography method (reactive hyperemia and index of digital volume waveforms, respectively). Data were compared with the non-obese (non-OB) group (body mass index >10th to <97th percentile). Anthropometric parameters, body fat percentage, fasting glucose, lipid profile, insulinemia, HOMA-IR and hemodynamic parameters were determined in both groups.


RESULTS
Body mass index, weight, waist circumference, body fat, insulinemia and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the OB group. The OB group showed impaired endothelial function (15.8 ± 0.2%, n = 37) compared to the non-OB group (41.4 ± 5%, n = 20; p < 0.001) and increased arterial stiffness. Endothelial function was only negatively correlated with waist circumference and HOMA-IR in the OB group, whereas a positive correlation was found between insulinemia and HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that impaired vascular function is already present in OB children and adolescents. The fact that obesity is associated with some markers of cardiovascular risk suggests the importance of early lifestyle interventions in this population to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Departamento Biomédico, Orientación Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, INSIBO-CONICET, Hospital del Niño Jesús, Tucumán, Argentina.
Claudio
C
Joo Turoni
Rodrigo O
RO
Marañón
Verónica
V
Felipe
María Elisa
ME
Bruno
Alejandro
A
Negrete
Nicolás
N
Salas
María Cristina
MC
Bazán de Casella
María
M
Peral de Bruno
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010991:Plethysmography; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055105:Waist Circumference