Central adiposity contributes to the association between vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and carotid intima-media thickness in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND

Children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) after cardiac procedures are more vulnerable to vascular inflammation due to obesity, a cardiovascular risk factor.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the inflammatory biomarkers associated with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) stratified by central adiposity.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study using data from the Floripa CHild (Congential Heart dIsease and atheroscLerosis in ChilDren and adolescents) Study (2021/2022). Blood pressure, lipid and glucose profiles, anthropometric parameters, and behavioral factors were assessed as risk factors. Central adiposity was defined as waist circumference percentile ≥90th by age and sex. Serum inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukins and adhesion molecules, were measured. cIMT was evaluated using ultrasonography. Multivariate linear regression was applied, and statistical significance was set at P < .05.

RESULTS

A total of 118 patients with CHD (median age, 13 years [IQR 10-14] and 50.8% female) were evaluated. The prevalence of central adiposity was 16.1%. Patients with central adiposity had higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < .001). In the multiple linear regression stratified by central adiposity, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was positively associated with cIMT only in patients with central adiposity (0.023).

CONCLUSION

Central adiposity may play an important role in the onset of vascular inflammation and early cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents with CHD.