Obesity is Associated with Increased Left Ventricular Mass in Children

Introduction: Obesity is a global program that is increasing worldwide and associates with high morbidity and mortality. Increase left ventricular mass is a target organ damage that is related to increase in blood pressure. Some evidence suggests that obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of increase left ventricular mass. th percentile, overweight defined as BMI between 85 th to 94 th percentile and normal body weight defined as BMI between 5 th to 84 th percentiles According to the BMI obtained, the study sample was then divided into two subgroups; Normal weight for age group and overweight obese group. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular mass index were assessed and measured with 2D echocardiography along with the ejection fraction percentages. Results: Only 59 children (24 males = 40.68% and 35 females = 59.32) were included and the sample were divided into two groups (normal body weight group which constitutes 42.37% of the sample and obese/overweight group which constitutes the remainder 57.63%).The mean (SD) of LV mass index in systole g/m2 was statistically significantly greater in the Obese/Overweight group 82.70 (21.86) compared to the Normal body weight group 69.85 (16.64), t(57) = 2.481 and p = 0.016. The mean difference was 12.85 with (95% CI: 2.48 to 23.21). The mean (SD) of LV mass index in diastole g/m2 was statistically significantly greater in the Obese/Overweight group 61.57 (15.72) compared to the Normal body weight group 52.05 (15.69), t(57) = 2.309 and p = 0.025. The mean difference was 9.51 with (95% CI: 1.26 to 17.76). In the last decade, the incidence of obesity has increased worldwide in the youth population and is most likely related to changes in lifestyle and dietary habits with an increase in the consumption of unhealthy food (5). This trend has become a mounting public health concern across the globe. In the western hemisphere and in the U.S. in particular, 31.7% of children are considered to be overweight and 16.9% are considered obese (6). In comparison, the prevalence of overweight, obese and severely obese children in Saudi Arabia is 23.1%, 9.3% and 2%, respectively (7). In this vulnerable population, an increased BMI is associated with many cardiac disorders that primarily involve atherosclerotic changes. This is particularly evident in the pediatric age group with BMI values above the 97 th percentile. Additionally, pulmonary diseases, such as obstructive sleep apnea and reactive airway disorders, are common presentations in obese children compared