Childhood Obesity an Important Predictor of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

LVH and cardiac remodeling were associated with greater body-mass index and, to a lesser extent, higher blood pressure in both childhood and adulthood in a decades-long study.

Several cardiovascular risk factors are associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but little is known about the association of childhood adiposity and adulthood LV parameters. Therefore, investigators examined the effects of adiposity and elevated blood pressure (BP) during childhood on adulthood LV remodeling patterns in 1061 adults aged 24 to 46 years enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. The authors characterized four LV remodeling patterns, indexed to body height (LV mass index): normal, concentric remodeling, eccentric hypertrophy, and concentric hypertrophy. Mean follow-up was 28 years.

Higher values of body-mass index (BMI) and BP in childhood, adulthood, or both were significantly associated with higher LV mass index and LV…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Childhood Obesity an Important Predictor of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

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Reviewing Author