Volume 49, Issue 2 June 2025 JVU 492-84 | Association Between Body Mass Index, Skinfolds Thickness, Blood Pressure and Decreased Carotid Artery Wall Strain on Vascular Elastography in Children-Volume 49, Issue 2 June 2025 JVU 492-84 | Association Between Body Mass Index, Skinfolds Thickness, Blood Pressure and Decreased Carotid Artery Wall Strain on Vascular Elastography in Children

Volume 49, Issue 2 June 2025 JVU 492-84 | Association Between Body Mass Index, Skinfolds Thickness, Blood Pressure and Decreased Carotid Artery Wall Strain on Vascular Elastography in Children

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This study, published in the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound, investigates the early indicators of cardiovascular risk in children with obesity by examining markers such as body mass index (BMI), skinfold thickness, blood pressure, and carotid artery wall strain using non-invasive vascular elastography (NIVE). Conducted between October 2020 and February 2023, the study recruited 92 children, aged around 13, with 39% classified as overweight or obese.<br /><br />The study highlights the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and its implications, such as a heightened risk for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. It explores how non-invasive techniques like the measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) and NIVE can detect subclinical atherosclerosis in children.<br /><br />Key findings include that overweight/obese children had significantly lower NIVE-based cumulated axial strain (CAS), indicating increased arterial stiffness. NIVE-based IMT divided by carotid diameter was lower among overweight children, particularly those with increased waist circumference. Despite these findings, there were no significant differences in absolute IMT measurements between weight categories, suggesting that arterial stiffness may precede arterial thickening.<br /><br />The study concludes that NIVE parameters could be more effective than traditional IMT measurements for gauging cardiovascular risk in children with obesity. The results support further exploration of NIVE as a predictive tool for early atherosclerosis, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and personalized monitoring to mitigate long-term cardiovascular risks. <br /><br />Overall, this research underscores the critical need for precise early detection techniques and preventive strategies to combat the adverse health impacts of childhood obesity.

Keywords

childhood obesity

cardiovascular risk

non-invasive vascular elastography

intima-media thickness

arterial stiffness

subclinical atherosclerosis

early detection

preventive strategies

NIVE parameters

vascular health