Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in obese patients and to evaluate the benefits of these findings in the early detection of asymptomatic cases.Material and Methods: Fifty children diagnosed with obesity (body mass index (BMI) > 95th percentile) and fifty healthy children and adolescents of similar age and gender were evaluated. Complete echocardiographic examination including two-dimensional, M-Mode, Pulse Wave Doppler and tissue Doppler techniques were used to evaluate left ventricular functions.results: Obese patients had significant differences in LV structure. Left ventricule end-diastolic diameter and left atrium diameter, and left ventricle septal and posterior wall thicknesses were higher in the obese group compared to the nonobese group (p:0.00001, p:0.00001, p:0.00001, p:0.00001 respectively). Left ventricular mass and mass index were significantly increased (p=0,001 and p=0,04). In addition, Doppler echocardiography parameters of the left ventricle demonstrated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the obese group. Pulmonary venous flow Doppler parameters and tissue Doppler parameters of the mitral annulus’ septal and lateral parts revealed diastolic dysfunction in the obese group. Isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and isovolumetric contraction time (ICT) were prolonged, ejection time (ET) was significantly decreased and myocardial performance index (MPI) was increased in the obese group compared to the controls (p=0.0001)

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