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Severe obesity raises CV risk profile among adolescents, young adults
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A more adverse cardiovascular risk profile is found among adolescents and young adults with severe obesity vs. those with slightly lower BMI, according to recent study findings published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Further, there is an independent association between severe obesity and subclinical cardiac and vascular changes, according to the researchers.
Amy S. Shah, MD, of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, and colleagues evaluated 265 adolescents and young adults with severe obesity (BMI 120% of the 95th percentile) and 182 adolescents and young adults with obesity (BMI 100% to 119% of the 95th percentile) to determine the relationship between obesity and subclinical measures of cardiac and vascular structure and function.
Amy S. Shah
Half of the severe obesity group had type 2 diabetes compared with 38% of the obese group (P < .05).
The severe obesity group had higher systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 compared with the obese group (all P < .05).
The severe obesity group had worse cardiac structure, diastolic function and vascular thickness and stiffness compared with the obese group when measured by a higher left ventricular mass index, early filling peak velocity, internal carotid, pulse wave velocity femoral and lower brachial artery distensibility (all P < .05).
“This study establishes that adolescents and young adults with severe obesity have a worse [CV] risk profile and a greater degree of preclinical cardiac and peripheral vascular changes than obese youth,” the researchers wrote. “In addition, severe obesity is an independent risk factor for clinical cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. Thus, youth with severe obesity appear to be at a greater risk for subclinical [CV] complications. These findings support the need for more aggressive management and intervention in this group.” - by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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