Posted on the Pediatric SuperSite on November 17, 2009
Weight loss following bariatric surgery improved cardiac risk factors in adolescents
Adolescents who underwent bariatric surgery experienced
significant improvements in left ventricular mass, diastolic function, blood
pressure and heart rate, according to data presented today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009.
“Increased cardiac risk factors are present in
obese adolescents but can improve rapidly following profound weight loss. These
improvements persisted for at least two years,” Holly M. Ippisch, MD,
MS, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Heart Institute of Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, said during a press conference.
The study included 87 adolescents (63 girls; 86% white)
aged 19 years or younger who underwent bariatric surgery. Ippisch and
colleagues used echocardiograms to assess changes in post-surgical heart
function, diastolic function and hypertrophy at six months, one year and two
years (n=55).
The researchers reported significant improvements in LV
mass and diastolic function six months after surgery (P≤.01), and the
improvements persisted at the two-year follow-up. The changes at six months
post-op correlated with change in BMI (P<.05 for all), according to
the researchers. Blood pressure did not impact change in LV mass.
Twenty-four percent of adolescents had abnormal LV
geometry at two years, an increase from 49% at baseline.
Mean BMI decreased from 58 at baseline to 38 at two
years post-op (P<.01).
“Average weight-loss within six months was 46 kg
and this remained improved through two years for an average of 53 kg,”
Ippisch said.
These results suggest that early weight-loss
intervention improves not only weight loss but lasting improvements in cardiac
risk factors, the researchers concluded. – by Jennifer Southall
Statistics from the CDC regarding childhood obesity are really quite
alarming. We have gone from a prevalence of 5% of childhood obesity rates to
the current prevalence of about 17%. We have also seen that the severity of
childhood obesity has increased since the 1970s to the point where we are now
seeing extreme measures being considered, such as bariatric surgery in
adolescents with severe forms of obesity.
– Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, MPH
Pediatrician and chief of Children’s Hospital of
Denver
For more information:
- Ippisch H. #1303. Presented at: the American Heart Association 2009
Scientific Sessions; Nov. 14-18, 2009; Orlando, Fla.
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