Evaluation of ventricular geometry and cardiac functions in obese adolescents with echocardiography

Objective: Obesity is a serious condition associated with increased blood volume and left ventricular hypertrophy, with diastolic dysfunction being particularly prominent during childhood. In adulthood, systolic dysfunction is more commonly observed. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, and the structural changes in the heart, as well as systolic and diastolic functions, in obese adolescents. Methods: The study included 80 obese and 60 normal-weight adolescents aged between 12-18 years. The body mass index (BMI) of all participants was calculated, and their systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. Lipid profile and insulin resistance assessments were conducted for the obese adolescents, and waist/hip ratio was calculated. M-mode echocardiography, pulsed Doppler, and tissue Doppler echocardiography were performed on all subjects to evaluate cardiac functions. Results: The results showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in obese adolescents compared to the control group. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were also found to be higher in the obese group. Additionally, a significant decrease was detected in markers of diastolic dysfunction. No systolic dysfunction was observed; however, the left ventricular Tei index (LVTEI), which reflects both systolic and diastolic dysfunction, was significantly higher in the obese group. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that cardiac dysfunction can be detected in obese adolescents before symptoms appear, providing an opportunity for early intervention