Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 September 2015
The purpose of our study was to evaluate the association between insulin resistance and left ventricular size and function in obese children.
A total of 79 cases aged 10–16 years and diagnosed with obesity and 79 healthy and non-obese cases as controls were included in the study. Patient and control groups were divided into three groups in terms of age as group 1 (10–12 years), group 2 (12–14 years), and group 3 (14–16 years). Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, and fasting insulin levels of the cases were assessed. Mitral valve E and A waves, left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, left atrium diameter, and septal wall thickness were measured using echocardiography.
Measurements of septal diastolic thicknesses, left atrium diameter, and left ventricular end-systolic diameter of all the three groups obtained by echocardiography were statistically higher compared with the controls. In all the patient groups, the mitral valve E/A ratio was >1. In groups 2 and 3, there was a positive correlation between fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR and left ventricular end-systolic diameter, end-diastolic diameter, and septal systolic and diastolic wall thicknesses.
In paediatric obesity, identification of early cardiac changes will be significant in allowing early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.