Abstract: The "catch-up growth" phenomenon in children born small for gestational age (SGA) has been linked to early onset obesity with the subsequent emergence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The intima media thickness of the common carotid artery (CIMT) is a well-known marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Aim: to determine the association between being born SGA and CIMT, a measure of atherogenesis and to investigate metabolic risk factors which impact on CIMT in obese children.
Material and methods: A prospective study was carried out over a 1 year period (July 2012-June 2013). We analyzed 122 obese patients, 96 patients appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 26 patients SGA. Both groups were matched for age, sex and BMI. Blood pressure, lipids and glucose were determined. Oral glucose tolerance tests (oGTT) were performed. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). CIMT was measured in all the patients.
Results: CIMT in obese children born SGA was significantly increased as compared with obese children born AGA similar age, sex and BMI (p=0.0035). We demonstrated a strong correlation between CIMT and all other metabolic factors (r=0.98). In both groups, mean CIMT of was significantly related to diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and HOMA. CIMT was not significantly related to systolic blood pressure and baseline glucose.
Conclusion: High triglycerides levels and low HDL-cholesterol levels, IR and diastolic blood pressure, which are all components of MetS are strong predictors of increased CIMT in obese children. Being born SGA increases the atherogenic risk.
Keywords: intima media thickness of the common carotid artery; obesity; small for gestational age.