The Effects Of Overweight And Age On Cardiovascular Health In Pre And Post Pubertal Children

Objective: To determine whether an increased trend in central aortic stiffness exists in children with increased adiposity when comparing groups from both pre-adolescents through adolescents. Study Design: 44 pre-adolescent (8.3 ± 1.5 y.o) and 32 adolescent (15.6 ± 1.8 y.o) participants were studied. Subjects came in for one observational visit consisting of body composition, body anthropometrics, aortic systolic blood pressure (ASBP), aortic pulse pressure (APP), heart rate (HR) and regional assessment of large artery stiffness using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVCF). Results: PWVCF was higher in adolescent versus pre-adolescent for both normal weight (NW) and overweight children (OW) (p < 0.01). ASBP was higher in pre-adolescent versus adolescent in OW children (p < 0.01) and in adolescent versus pre-adolescent in NW children (p < 0.05). APP was higher in both pre-adolescent versus adolescent for OW children (p < 0.05). HR was lower in adolescent versus pre-adolescent forboth NW and OW children (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Being OW seems to play less of a role with differences in PWVCF between NW and OW groups and that puberty is the predominant factor responsible for increases in central stiffness in pediatrics.