Arine Santos Pecanha MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alexandra Monteiro MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Fernanda Gazolla, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Isabel R Madeira, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maria Alice N Bordallo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cecilia N Miranda, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nadia C P Rodrigues, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Childhood obesity is a public health problem and its consequences on the vascular endothelium may be measured by ultrasound. This study intends to evaluate the behavior of the intima-media thickness comparing eutrophic, overweight and obese children.

Carotid ultrasound was performed in 129 prepubertal children of about 7,7 (5-10) years old, 80 of them obese, 18 overweight and 31 eutrophic, all without comorbidities and classified by body mass index Z-score (BMIZ). The measurements were performed manually by two independent observers, with at least three measurements in the common carotid artery (CIMT Right) and the left common carotid artery (CIMT Left), in the plane located about 2.0 cm below the bifurcation. Blood pressure (BP) was also measured.

The median CIMT Right was 0.040 in eutrophic children, in that of overweight, 0.045, and 0.050mm (p-value 0.35) in the obese ones. Concerning the CIMT Left, it was respectively 0.040, 0.047 and 0.050mm (p-value 0.03). The mean CIMT Right and Left was 0.045, 0045 and 0050 successively in the three groups (p-value 0.07). In bivariate logistic regression analysis, there was a positive association, with statistical significance of BMI index-Z and systolic BP with the average thickness of the carotid intima (BMI Thick trace) of the left and right sides, and of the average values of both. Diastolic BP was positively associated with statistical significance with left BMI Thick trace and the average of the values of the left and right sides. In multivariate analysis, a positive association with statistical significance of BMI Z-index and systolic BP with left BMI Thick trace was verified. The systolic BP was associated positively and with statistically significance with BMI Thick trace to the average of the values of both left and right sides.

The increased weight in children directly affects the intima-media complex thickness, although it is only statistically positive in the left carotid artery. The systolic blood pressure levels were positively associated with thickening of the carotid intima-media left, and to the average of the values of intima-media thickness of the left and right carotid arteries.

The pathogenesis found in most cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, which begins in childhood, and the thickening of the carotid intima-media determined by ultrasonography is excellent marker.

Pecanha, A, Monteiro, A, Gazolla, F, Madeira, I, Bordallo, M, Miranda, C, Rodrigues, N, Influence of Increased Weight and Blood Pressure in Prepubertal Children Related to the Carotid Artery Intima-media Complex Thickness.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045662.html