Relationship between overweight and obesity and cardiac dimensions and function in a paediatric population.

Juan Fernández Cabeza,Cristhian H Aristizábal-Duque,Manuel Romero Saldaña,Manuel Pan Álvarez-Ossorio,Mónica Delgado Ortega,Isabel María Blancas Sánchez,Ana Rodríguez Almodóvar,Francisco Javier Fonseca Del Pozo,María Dolores Mesa Rubio,Fátima Esteban Martínez,Martín Ruíz Ortiz

doi:10.1007/s00431-022-04384-0

Abstract

Childhood obesity is independently associated with larger heart chambers, greater left ventricle mass, and smaller left ventricle ejection fraction. •Childhood obesity is related to the development of cardiovascular risk factors and is considered an epidemic of the twenty-first century; its prevalence is rising. • Childhood overweight and obesity lead to changes in cardiac structure and function which, although not considered clinically pathological, are significant and a result of obesity, and which behave as unfavourable incipient alterations at an early age.

Highlights

Childhood obesity is one of the most significant public health issues of the 21st century
Childhood obesity is independently associated with larger heart chambers, greater left ventricle mass, and smaller left ventricle ejection fraction
As for the definition of childhood obesity, there is no agreed criterion for establishing overweight and obesity based on body mass index (BMI)

Summary

Introduction

Childhood obesity is one of the most significant public health issues of the 21st century. In Spain, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the paediatric population is 34.1% and 10.3% respectively [1]. This prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate: childhood overweight and obesity is estimated to have increased globally by 47.1% over the past three decades [2]. Overweight and obesity are associated with the development of cardiovascular risk factors in the paediatric age group, such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinemia and chronic inflammation [3]. Childhood obesity has been linked to the development of cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood and to increased morbidity and mortality [4, 5]. Obesity in adulthood has been identified as a causative agent of cardiovascular disease independently of other classical risk factors. Obesity-related clinical entities include the development of coronary heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and sudden death [6]

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