Association between the corrected QT interval, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and hepatic steatosis in obese children

OBJECTIVE Childhood obesity is related to subclinical atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and hepatosteatosis are parameters that reflect subclinical atherosclerosis and are shown to be associated with obesity. However, their relation with the corrected QT interval (QTc) has not been thoroughly studied in children. Here, we aimed to research the relation between QTc, hepatic steatosis, and CIMT among obese children. METHODS Fifty-three obese and 53 age- and sex-matched non-obese children aged 6-16 years were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. The QTc of each subject was accordingly obtained from lead II on a 12-lead resting electrocardiogram. Thus, CIMT measurement and abdominal ultrasonographic examination were performed. The data for obese and non-obese children were analyzed and compared. RESULT The age and gender distribution of the subjects were statistically similar. The CIMT value of the obese group was higher than that of the non-obese group (p<0.001). The obese group had a higher frequency of hepatosteatosis at grade 1 or 2 than the non-obese group (p<0.001). The QTc values were also found to be more prolonged in the obese group than in the other group (p<0.001). With Student's t-test and Mann-Whitey U test accordingly. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that obese children had higher CIMT and QTc values as well as more frequent hepatosteatosis, and that the presence of hepatosteatosis or increased CIMT had an association with prolonged QTc values in obese children. Therefore, with the aim of detecting cardiovascular effects of obesity, it may be beneficial to perform the measurements of QTc in the presence of hepatosteatosis and/or increased CIMT among obese children.