Abstract

Objective: Obesity in childhood is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adulthood due to cardiovascular disease. C-Reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in obese patients, whereas the adiponectin level is negatively correlated.
This study was conducted to determine the effects of obesity on cardiac structure and functions and to investigate the relationship of cardiac structures and functions with CRP, Il-6, and adiponectin levels.
Patients and Methods: A total of 38 obese and 30 healthy non-obese children were included. The anthropometric profiles of all the children were recorded. CRP, IL-6, adiponectin, and fasting glucose insulin levels were measured. The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The children were assessed using conventional transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging.
Results: Serum CRP, IL-6, insulin, and HOMA-IR were higher, and adiponectin levels were lower in obese subjects. Left ventricular wall thickness and dimensions, and left atrial diameter were greater in the obese group and the myocardial performance index (MPI) was measured higher (P=0.001). These alterations of cardiac structure were found to be positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, insulin and HOMA-IR, and negatively correlated with adiponectin.
Conclusion: These alterations in cardiac structure and functions in obese children indicate cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, and can be measured by Doppler echocardiography.  In addition, BMI, waist circumference, insulin, and HOMA-IR are useful parameters for both cardiac structure and cardiac functions. Adiponectin, should also be considered as a new parameter for cardiac structure.