Echocardiographic assessment of epicardial adipose tissue in obese children and its relation to clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac function and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) of obese children with echocardiography and to study the relationship of EAT to other echocardiogrpahic findings and to clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome(MS) in children. This study included 74 obese children and adolescents form the patients attending the obesity clinic of National Research Centre. Metabolic syndrome was determined according to International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) 2007 criteria. Forty leanchildren were included in the study as a control group. All children were subjected to: clinical assessment including standing height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Echocardiography examination with measurement of EAT thickness and Biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C and LDL-C). BMI, SDS BMI, WC, HC and HOMA index were significantly higher in obese compared to lean children P = 0.001. Left atrial (LA) diameter, septal, posterior wall thickness, relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass (LVM) were increased in obese compared to non obese group while LV systolic and diastolic functions did not differ in obese versus lean children P > 0.05. The patients had significantly thicker EAT compared to control P = 0.01. There was a significant correlation between EAT thickness in comparison to BMI, WC, HC, LA diameter, LVM, HOMA, Triglyceride and LDL-C No significant difference in EAT thickness between obese patients with or without metabolic syndrome. Assessment of EAT thickness in routine echocardiographic examinations might be a feasible and reliable method for the evaluation of obesity and its related cardiovascular risks during childhood. There is no significant association between EAT thickness and metabolic syndrome in obese children.