Left Ventricular Geometrical Changes in Severely Obese Adolescents: Prevalence, Determinants, and Clinical Implications.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is independently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults. Adiposity is a risk factor for LVH, independent of blood pressure. Potential causes of this nonhemodynamic pathogenesis identified in adults include adverse body fat distribution, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). In severely obese adolescents, the determinants of obesity-induced changes in left ventricular structure are poorly characterized. Cardiac ultrasonographic, demographic, anthropometric, and comorbidity-related data were prospectively collected in adolescents with severe obesity refractory to conservative treatment who presented for surgical therapy. Differences between adolescents with LVH and without LVH were evaluated using independent samples t, chi-square, or Fisher's exact test. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations with left ventricular structural changes, corrected for body mass index (BMI) z score. Forty-three patients entered analysis, of whom 24 (55.8%) showed LVH. The most common geometrical change was eccentric LVH (eLVH), occurring in 21 subjects (48.8%). Demographic and anthropometric variables did not differ between patients with and without LVH. Independent of BMI z score, left ventricular mass index was significantly associated with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (regression parameter B = 0.8; 95% CI 0.3 to 1.2). Interventricular septum thickness (IVST) was significantly associated with HOMA-IR values (B = 0.1; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.2), HDL-cholesterol (B = - 1.2; 95% CI - 2.2 to 0.1), and triglyceride levels (B = 0.5; 95% CI 0.001 to 0.9). LVH, especially eLVH, is highly prevalent amongst severely obese adolescents. Adverse changes in cardiac structure, increased IVST in particular, are independently associated with several nonhemodynamic comorbidities that are common in this population, namely OSA, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia.

Obstructive sleep apnea in obese adolescents referred for bariatric surgery: association with metabolic and cardiovascular variables.

BACKGROUND: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a well-described disease entity in adults, with a higher prevalence in severely obese individuals, while at the same time associated with several comorbidities independently of BMI. Literature regarding OSA in severely obese adolescents is qualitatively and quantitatively limited, possibly resulting in suboptimal diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: polysomnographic, demographic, anthropometric, and comorbidity-related data were prospectively collected in 56 adolescents with morbid obesity refractory to conservative treatment who presented for surgical therapy. Differences between adolescents with no/mild (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 0-4.9) and moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥ 5.0) were evaluated using independent-samples t, chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of several variables with AHI, corrected for BMI z-score. RESULTS: of the 53 included subjects, 48 (90.6%) showed some degree of sleep disordered breathing and 20 (37.7%) had moderate/severe OSA. Patients with moderate/severe OSA had on average a higher neck circumference (42.4 versus 40.1 cm, p = 0.008), higher BMI z-score (3.7 versus 3.4, p = 0.003), higher plasma triglyceride level (2.2 versus 1.5 mmol/L, p = 0.012), and lower IGF (29.6 versus 40.2 mmol/L, p = 0.010) than those with no/mild OSA. BMI z-score and plasma triglyceride levels were independently related to AHI. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is highly prevalent amongst morbidly obese adolescents and is strongly associated with BMI z-score. Elevated plasma triglyceride levels are associated with AHI, independent of BMI z-score.

Early cost-utility estimation of the surgical correction of pectus excavatum with the Nuss bar.

OBJECTIVES: The surgical correction of pectus excavatum (PE) with a Nuss bar provides satisfactory outcomes, but its cost-effectiveness is yet unproven. We prospectively analysed early outcomes and costs for Nuss bar placement. METHODS: Fifty-four patients aged 16 years or older (6 females and 48 males; mean age, 17.9 years; range 16.0-29.4 years) with a PE filled out a Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-6D) preoperatively and 1 year after a Nuss procedure. Costs included professional fees and fees for the operating room, materials and hospital care. Changes in the responses to the SF-36 or its domains were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the utility test results were calculated preoperatively and postoperatively from the SF-6D. The quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated from the results of these tests. RESULTS: Significant improvements in physical functioning, social functioning, mental health and health transition (all P < 0.05) were noted. The other SF-36 subgroups showed improvement; however, the improvement was not significant. The SF-6D utility showed improvement from 0.76 preoperatively to 0.79 at the 1-year follow-up (P = 0.096). The mean direct costs were €8805. The 1-year discounted QALY gain was 0.03. The estimated cost-utility ratio was €293 500 per QALY gained. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a significant improvement in many domains of the SF-36, the results of the SF-6D cost-utility analysis showed only a small improvement in cost-effectiveness (> €80 000/QALY) for patients with PE 1 year after Nuss bar placement. Based on this discrepancy, general health outcome measurements as the basis for cost-utility analysis in patients with PE may not be the best way forward.

Structural Endoscopic Techniques to Treat Obesity: A Review.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly during the past decades, affecting now approximately 30% of people worldwide. Bariatric surgery has proven to be the most effective treatment modality for obesity in the long term. However, current surgical procedures are accompanied by a substantial risk of complications. Several endoluminal techniques have been developed to achieve weight loss in obese patients and claim to be as effective as surgery but safer. The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic bariatric procedures that provide structural changes in anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. A comprehensive search was conducted using online databases and the references of the selected articles. All studies included in this review show excess weight loss in the short-term to medium-term, which ranges from 24% to 58%. Seven serious adverse events were reported. Therefore, we conclude that endoscopic bariatric procedures providing structural changes show relatively low complication rates and promising short-term weight loss and effect on obesity-related comorbidities. Long-term results in large study populations are necessary before these techniques can be incorporated in the standard treatment of obesity.