Echocardiographic Comparison of Myocardial Performance between Obese and Normal Weight Children and Adolescents

Background: Obesity prevalence has increased alarmingly in recent decades as a result of lifestyle changes. Obesity can have adverse effects during childhood and adolescence, which often persist into adulthood. Some studies have shown that echocardiographic findings are associated with obesity, accompanied by an increase in the left ventricle's size, diameter, and weight. This study compared Tissue Doppler and Pulse Doppler echocardiographic changes between obese and normal weight children and adolescents.Method: In ۲۰۲۱, this research was conducted on ۶۶ children and adolescents aged ۹ to ۱۸ in Birjand. It included ۳۳ individuals, comprising ۲۵ boys and ۸ girls, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than ۹۵, classified as the obese group, and ۳۳ individuals, comprising ۲۱ boys and ۱۲ girls with a BMI between ۱۰ and ۸۵, ranked as the control group. The two groups' parameters were measured using Tissue Doppler Index (echocardiography), and the data was analyzed using SPSS version ۱۶ at a significance level of less than ۰.۰۵.Result: The obese and normal weight groups had average ages of ۱۲.۸۴±۱.۹۲ and ۱۲.۸۷±۲.۸۷, respectively. In the obese group, the average BMI was ۲۸.۵۲±۴.۳, while in the control group, it was ۱۶.۵۵±۲.۲۱. The average EF (Ejection Fraction) in the obese group was ۲۴۷.۱۳±۳۲.۴۴, and in the control group, it was ۲۴۹.۶±۲۴.۶۸.In the obese group, the mean values of the parameters S´, A', and A were ۱۲.۹۱±۲.۶۳, ۱۲.۶۱±۲.۷۵ and ۷۴.۸۳±۱۶.۷۵, while in the control group, they were ۱۱.۴۷±۲.۶۶, ۱۰.۲۸±۲.۷۲, and ۶۳.۲۱±۱۵.۴۱. The obese group had substantially higher values compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۵). The mean values of IVRT, IVCT, MPI, E', and E were more significant in the obese group than in the control group, whereas ET and E/A were more significant in the control group. These differences, however, were not statistically significant.Conclusion: The significant increase in diastolic dysfunction parameters, including A' and E'/A', in the obese group may indicate a severe type of LV Compliance Decrease.