Biological Pathways in Adolescent Aortic Stiffness.

Background Aortic stiffening begins in youth and antedates future hypertension. In adults, excess weight, systemic inflammation, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, neurohormonal activation, and altered adipokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of increased aortic stiffness. In adolescents, we assessed the relations of comprehensive measures of aortic stiffness with body mass index (BMI) and related but distinct circulating biomarkers. Methods and Results A convenience sample of 246 adolescents (mean age, 16±2 years; 45% female, 24% Black, and 43% Hispanic) attending primary care or preventive cardiology clinics at 2 tertiary hospitals was grouped as normal weight (N=98) or excess weight (N=148, defined as BMI ≥age- and sex-referenced 85th percentile). After an overnight fast, participants underwent anthropometry, noninvasive arterial tonometry, and assays for serum lipids, CRP (C-reactive protein), glucose, insulin, renin, aldosterone, and leptin. We used multivariable linear regression to relate arterial stiffness markers (including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity) to BMI z score and a biomarker panel. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was higher in excess weight compared with normal weight group (5.0±0.7 versus 4.6±0.6 m/s; P<0.01). After multivariable adjustment, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was associated with BMI z score (0.09 [95% CI, 0.01-0.18]; P=0.04) and with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.26 [95% CI, 0.03-0.50]; P=0.03). Conclusions Higher BMI and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with greater aortic stiffness in adolescents. Maintaining optimal BMI and lipid levels may mitigate aortic stiffness.

Psychosocial, behavioral and clinical correlates of children with overweight and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Psychological and behavioral correlates are considered important in the development and persistence of obesity in both adults and youth. This study aimed to identify such features in youth with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 120% of 95thpercentile of sex-specific BMI-for-age) compared to those with overweight or non-severe obesity. METHODS: Youth with BMI ≥ 85th percentile were invited to participate in a prospective research registry where data was collected on attributes such as family characteristics, eating behaviors, dietary intake, physical activity, perception of health and mental well-being, and cardiometabolic parameters. RESULTS: In a racially/ethnically diverse cohort of 105 youth (65% female, median age 16.1 years, range 4.62-25.5), 51% had severe obesity. The body fat percent increased with the higher levels of obesity. There were no differences in the self-reported frequency of intake of sugar sweetened beverages or fresh produce across the weight categories. However, the participants with severe obesity reported higher levels of emotional eating and eating when bored (p = 0.022), levels of stress (p = 0.013), engaged in fewer sports or organized activities (p = 0.044), and had suboptimal perception of health (p = 0.053). Asthma, depression and obstructive sleep apnea were more frequently reported in youth with severe obesity. The presence of abnormal HDL-C, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and multiple cardiometabolic risk factors were more common among youth with severe obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Youth with severe obesity have identifiable differences in psychosocial and behavioral attributes that can be used to develop targeted intervention strategies to improve their health.

Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Kawasaki Disease: Risk Factors for Progressive Disease and Adverse Cardiac Events in the US Population.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in the United States is not well described. We describe the natural history of CAA in US Kawasaki disease (KD) patients and identify factors associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and CAA regression. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated all KD patients with CAA at 2 centers from 1979 to 2014. Factors associated with CAA regression, maximum CA z-score over time (zMax), and MACE were analyzed. We performed a matched analysis of treatment effect on likelihood of CAA regression. Of 2860 KD patients, 500 (17%) had CAA, including 90 with CAA z-score >10. Most (91%) received IVIG within 10 days of illness, 32% received >1 IVIG, and 27% received adjunctive anti-inflammatory medications. CAA regression occurred in 75%. Lack of CAA regression and higher CAA zMax were associated with earlier era, larger CAA z-score at diagnosis, and bilateral CAA in univariate and multivariable analyses. MACE occurred in 24 (5%) patients and was associated with higher CAA z-score at diagnosis and lack of IVIG treatment. In a subset of patients (n=132) matched by age at KD and baseline CAA z-score, those receiving IVIG plus adjunctive medication had a CAA regression rate of 91% compared with 68% for the 3 other groups (IVIG alone, IVIG ≥2 doses, or IVIG ≥2 doses plus adjunctive medication). CONCLUSIONS: CAA regression occurred in 75% of patients. CAA z-score at diagnosis was highly predictive of outcomes, which may be improved by early IVIG treatment and adjunctive therapies.