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Pediatrics

Left atrial remodeling in adolescents with obesity evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography

International Journal of Obesity volume 48, pages 111–117 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background and aims

In adolescents with obesity, a left atrial (LA) enlargement has been reported. However, data regarding its function and its stiffness are missing. The aim of this study was to describe LA morphology and function, using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and to explore their potential determinants in adolescents with obesity.

Methods

Twenty-eight adolescent women with obesity (13.2 ± 1.4 yr) with an illness duration of 130 ± 27 months and 33 controls (14.1 ± 2.0 yr) underwent a resting echocardiography including an analysis of left ventricular (LV) and LA morphologies and strains. A fasting venous blood sample was performed to biochemical determinations including inflammation markers.

Results

LA volume and stiffness index were increased in adolescents with obesity compared to controls. LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump functions were not different between groups. By stepwise forward multivariate regression analyses, systolic blood pressures, cardiac output and sedimentation rate were the independent determinants of LA volume (p < 0.0001, β-coefficient = 0.460) whereas only the body mass index was an independent determinant of LA stiffness (p = 0.003, β-coefficient = 0.413).

Conclusion

In adolescents with obesity, we observed a specific LA remodeling, including higher volume and lower stiffness, which could constitute early signs of an altered LV diastolic function.

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Fig. 1: Regional atrial strains.
Fig. 2: Correlation with left atrial volume and stiffness.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank Dr Anne-Véronique Fourot and his team (SSR pédiatrique Tza Nou, UGECAM ALPC La Bourboule), as well as Dr Charlotte Cardenoux and his team (CMI de Romagnat) for their contribution to patient recruitment. This work was supported the Platform 3 A, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the French Ministry of Research, Higher Education and Innovation, the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region, the Departmental Council of Vaucluse and the Urban Community of Avignon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Avignon University, LAPEC EA4278, F-84000, Avignon, France

    Justine Paysal & Stéphane Nottin

  2. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Néonatologie et Réanimation Pédiatrique, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Justine Paysal

  3. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Pédiatrie, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Etienne Merlin, Emmanuelle Rochette & Daniel Terral

  4. Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CIC 1405, Unité CRECHE, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Etienne Merlin & Emmanuelle Rochette

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Contributions

PJ: study design, methodology, investigation, data collection, formal analysis, writing, drafting the initial manuscript. ME: methodology, investigation, supervision. RE: methodology, investigation. TD: methodology, investigation. NS: study design, methodology, investigation, supervision, data collection, formal analysis, resources, writing, drafting the initial manuscript. All authors were involved in writing the paper and had final approval of the submitted and published versions.

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Correspondence to Justine Paysal.

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Paysal, J., Merlin, E., Rochette, E. et al. Left atrial remodeling in adolescents with obesity evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography. Int J Obes 48, 111–117 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-023-01397-z

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