The importance of carotid artery stiffness and increased intima-media thickness in obese children

• Published in: South African medical journal 2012-05, Vol.102 (5), p.295-299
• Main Authors: Ozcetin, Mustafa, Celikyay, Z Ruken Yuksekkaya, Celik, Atac, Yilmaz, Resul, Yerli, Yasemin, Erkorkmaz, Unal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Atherosclerosis; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Care and treatment; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Carotid artery diseases; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child Welfare; Diagnosis; Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Measurement; Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity in children; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; South Africa; Tunica Intima - diagnostic imaging; Tunica Intima - pathology; Vascular Resistance
• ISSN: 0256-9574
• DOI: 10.7196/samj.5351

Atherosclerosis that starts in childhood invariably advances during adulthood. Aim. We aimed to study the effect of obesity on main carotid artery intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness. A total of 78 children were studied from October 2010 to February 2011. They were divided into obese (42 - group 1) and normal (36 - group 2). All the children were subjected to physical examination, routine biochemical and haematological analysis, carotid ultrasonography and echocardiographic measurements. A detailed medical history was obtained. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing participants' weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres. Stiffness index β was calculated using blood pressure and diameter of the systolic and diastolic artery. Intima-media thickness was also measured. The mean age of the obese and normal (control) groups were 10.12±2.12 years and 9.78±1.78 years respectively. Weight, BMI, and systolic and and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly higher in the obese group (all p