The association of obesity and obesity-related conditions with carotid extra-medial thickness in children and adolescents

Carotid artery intima-media thickness values in obese or overweight children: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is a non-invasive ultrasound marker of early atherosclerosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to report the published differences in IMT values in children living with overweight or obesity compared to controls with normal weight.

METHODS

This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, including only cohorts with normal controls. Inclusion criteria were IMT measured using B-mode or radiofrequency (RF) techniques and based on the four consensuses: American Heart Association, Association for European Pediatric Cardiology, Mannheim Consensus, and American Society of Echocardiography. We used the body mass index based on the World Health Organization growth standard definitions of obesity in children. Relevant articles were extracted from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science searched from inception to February 2024. A meta-analysis was done by a biostatistician using the R-software version 4.0.2.

RESULTS

We obtained 15 B-mode-based and two RF echo-tracking-based IMT measurement studies. IMT is significantly increased in children living with obesity. The mean IMT was 0.041 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.052; 0.031 higher in children with overweight/obesity, using the B-mode technique, and 0.045 mm, 95% CI: 0.062; 0.029 higher in children with overweight/obesity using RF technique.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis shows that IMT is significantly increased in children with obesity compared to normal-weight children according to both techniques.

KEY POINTS

Question IMT measured according to known consensuses is significantly increased in children living with obesity. Findings Mean IMT was 0.041 mm higher in children living with obesity using the B-mode technique and 0.045 mm using the RF technique. Clinical relevance There are different techniques to measure IMT in children. This meta-analysis, using cohorts of children living with obesity compared to normal weight controls, shows a significantly increased IMT in children living with obesity.

Carotid Extra-Media Thickness in Children: Relationships With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Endothelial Function

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that structural adventitial modifications and perivascular adipose tissue (PAT) may have a role in early atherogenesis. In a cohort of children and adolescents, we explored (1) the association of carotid extra-media thickness (cEMT), an ultrasound measure whose main determinants are arterial adventitia and PAT, with obesity and its cardiometabolic complications; and (2) the interplay between cEMT and endothelial function. Methods: The study participants included 286 youths (age, 6-16 years; 154 boys, and 132 girls). Anthropometric and laboratory parameters, liver ultrasound, vascular structure measures [cEMT and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT)], endothelial function [brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD)] were obtained in all subjects. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was diagnosed in the presence of hepatic fat on ultrasonography, in the absence of other causes of liver disease. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was established on the basis of three or more of the following cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk variables: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated blood pressure (BP), and impaired fasting glucose. Results: cEMT demonstrated significant associations with body-mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), BP, insulin resistance, NAFLD, and inflammation. No association was found between cEMT and lipid values, and between cEMT and MetS. A stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that WC (β coefficient, 0.35; P < 0.0001) was the only determinant of cEMT, independently of other major cardiometabolic risk factors. Further adjustment for cIMT did not significantly alter this association. FMD was correlated to age, Tanner stage, total and abdominal obesity, BP, NAFLD, and cEMT. The association between FMD and cEMT was independent of age, sex, Tanner stage, WC, and BMI (β coefficient, -0.14; P = 0.027). After controlling for CVD risk factors and basal brachial artery diameter, cEMT remained associated with FMD (β coefficient, -0.11; P = 0.049). Conclusions: In youths, cEMT is associated with abdominal fat, a well-established body fat depot with important implications for cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, cEMT is related to FMD, suggesting that arterial adventitia and PAT may be involved in the early changes in endothelial function.

Association of dietary pattern with carotid intima media thickness among children with overweight or obesity

BACKGROUND

Since there is no evidence demonstrating the relationship between dietary patterns and subclinical atherosclerosis in children and adolescents, we aimed to examine the association between dietary patterns and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

Data were collected on individuals, aged 6-13 years (n = 339) recruited from primary schools with age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) Z-score > 1, based on WHO criteria. Dietary intake was assessed using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire and dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis. Measurement of cIMT was performed by means of ultrasonography for the wall of common carotid artery.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD age, BMI Z-score and cIMT of study participants were 9.3 ± 1.7 years, 2.5 ± 0.7 and 0.403 ± 0.057 mm, respectively. Three dietary patterns were identified, which accounted for 23.0% of the total variance, including the healthy, the traditional, and the unhealthy patterns. After adjusting for age, sex, pubertal status, smoking exposure, physical activity, body fat percentage, and intake of magnesium and energy, a significant inverse association was observed between the healthy dietary pattern and cIMT (β = - 0.131, P = 0.019), whereas none were found between cIMT and the traditional (β = - 0.004, P = 0.932) and the unhealthy dietary (β = 0.004, P = 0.942) patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the present study indicate that adherence to healthy dietary pattern could prevent increased cIMT in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Further cohort design research is required to elucidate the association between dietary patterns and cIMT in children and adolescents.

Left ventricular remodelling and vascular adaptive changes in adolescents with obesity

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of obesity on myocardial mechanics and ventriculo-arterial coupling (V-A) in children.

METHODS

Strain parameters, stroke volume, arterial elastance, left ventricular (LV) elastance and V-A were compared after adjusting for age and hypertension and after multivariate sub-group analysis between patients with and without obesity.

RESULTS

Among 123 retrospectively enrolled subjects, 6-21 years age, 79.7% males, 52% were obese. Median (range) Body Mass Index Z score was +2.35 (1.67-4.43) for obese and +0.68 (-2.48-1.63) for non-obese. Subjects with obesity had higher LV mass indexed^2.7 (LVMI^2.7 ) compared with non-obese (P < 0.001). Lower global longitudinal strain (GLS) (P = 0.012), global circumferential strain (GCS) (P = 0.004), average longitudinal strain rate (P = 0.002) and average circumferential strain rate (P < 0.001) were seen in subjects with obesity; no difference was noted in arterial elastance, LV end systolic elastance and V-A. Increased LVMI^2.7 , decreased GLS, GCS, average longitudinal strain rate, average circumferential strain rate and maintained V-A were noted in the multivariate analysis between subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity causes alterations in myocardial mechanics with preserved V-A in children. These findings may aid intervention in preventing the long-term cadiovascular effects of obesity.

Relationship of circulating spexin with markers of cardiovascular disease: a pilot study in adolescents with obesity

PURPOSE

Spexin, a novel peptide, has potential implications in obesity, satiety and energy homeostasis. The current study examined the relationship of spexin with various biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and endothelial function in adolescents with obesity.

METHODS

Nineteen adolescents with obesity (age, 15.8 ± 1.7 years) were studied. Spexin, leptin and various cardiovascular disease biomarkers were measured. Endothelial function was assessed by high-resolution Doppler ultrasonography of the right brachial artery.

RESULTS

Spexin concentration (median [interquartile range] 0.38 ng/mL [0.29-0.59 ng/mL]) was inversely correlated (r = -0.50, P = 0.03) with leptin. When participants were clustered into two groups ('high spexin and low leptin' vs. 'low spexin and high leptin'), the odds of having 'low spexin and high leptin' in participants with higher hs-CRP (≥ 3 mg/L) were 12.25 times (95 per cent CI -1 to139, P = 0.026) higher than those of participants with lower hs-CRP (<3 mg/L). Spexin levels, however, were not associated with measures of endothelial function.

CONCLUSIONS

The inverse association between spexin and leptin and the presence of higher concentrations of hs-CRP in adolescents with obesity in the setting of 'low spexin and high leptin' suggest a potential role for spexin in the regulation of satiety and certain cardiovascular risk factors in children with obesity.

Subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent aphtous stomatitis (RAS) is an inflammatory oral mucosal disease. It has been known that inflammatory cascade plays important role in the atherosclerotic process. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between subclinical atherosclerotic findings and a systemic inflammatory disease, RAS.

METHODS

In total, 32 patients with RAS were matched with 30 control subjects on the basis of age, sex, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Laboratory parameters including lipid profiles were determined for patients and controls. B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess carotid extra-medial thickness (cEMT) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).

RESULTS

Both cEMT and cIMT in the RAS group were significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.002 and 0.013, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between cIMT and cEMT (r = 0.381, P = 0.034). cIMT was positively correlated with age, triglyceride levels, and systolic blood pressure, while cEMT was positively correlated with age in patients with RAS.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first reported study to evaluate cEMT and cIMT in patients with RAS. This study presents morphological evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RAS. Further studies investigating the relationship between atherosclerosis and RAS are needed.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Is Associated with Increased Androgens in Adolescents and Young Adults with Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Youth with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors of obesity and hypertension. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a marker of CVD risk, is increased in CAH young adults. We examined CIMT and its relationship with androgens and obesity in adolescents/young adults with CAH.

METHODS

Twenty CAH subjects (age 16 ± 3.3 years, 50% female) and 20 matched controls were studied cross-sectionally. Eight additional obese patients with CAH were included in within-group comparisons. CIMT by high-resolution ultrasound, androgens, anthropometry, bone age (BA), and metabolic/inflammatory markers were assessed.

RESULTS

Within the CAH group, CIMT correlated with 17-hydroxyprogesterone (r = 0.48, p < 0.05) and androstenedione (r = 0.46, p < 0.05), and was greater in obese subjects. CIMT was greater in CAH males than females, but similar among CAH females with advanced BA, CAH males with normal BA, and control males. There was no difference in CIMT between CAH and controls, although high-density lipoprotein was inversely correlated with CIMT in both groups.

CONCLUSION

CIMT is associated with increased androgens in CAH adolescents and young adults, with loss of sex differences in CAH females with excess androgen exposure. Our findings highlight the importance of hormonal control for CVD prevention in CAH.