Subclinical atherosclerosis: classic and emerging cardiovascular risk factors in Chilean obese children

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerosis begins in childhood and develops chronically depending on the amount of cardiovascular risk factors (RF).

Objective: Evaluate classic RF, an emergent RF (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein: hsCRP) and two noninvasive early markers of atherosclerosis: brachial ultrasound endothelium - dependent dilation (EDD) and carotid intima - media thickness (IMT)in obese versus normal children.

Patients and Methods: Twenty-six obese children (BMI > Pc95) and 57 normal children (BMI P 10-85) were evaluated with anthropometry, arterial pressure (AP), EDD, IMT, plasmatic hsCRP, lipid profile and glucose. Results: 50% were girls and 41% prepuberty. Age: 9.9 ± 1.6 vs 9.8 ± 1.8 years, zBMI: 2.0 ± 0.2 vs 0.17 ± 0.6, waist circumference (% media):133.5 ± 16 vs 100.5 ± 10% in obese and normal, respectively. The obese ones had higher total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, hsCRP and lower HDL-C (p < 0.005). There was no difference in DMF: 9.03 ± 5.2 % vs 9.3 ± 4.2 % and IMT: 0.49 ± 0.03 vs 0.50 ± 0.03 mm, glucose and AP.

Conclusion: The obese chilean children present a higher load of classic RF and hsCRP level that normal ones. Nevertheless, there was no difference in sub clinical atherosclerosis markers.