Association between the common carotid artery intima-media thickness and glucose metabolism in obese children

Objectives: To determine the relationship between glucose metabolism and atherosclerosis assessed according to the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in non-diabetic obese children. Methods: We performed anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests, including the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The CIMTs on both sides were measured in obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 95 percentile) children by one researcher. Results: There were 44 boys and 22 girls, and the mean age was 10.73±2.48 years (range, 8 - 14 years). The mean CIMT on both sides, age, BMI, blood pressure, lipid profile, OGTT results, and HbA1c level were not significantly different between the boys and girls. Simple correlation analyses showed that the fasting plasma glucose (PG) level (γ = 0.266, P = 0.034), PG at 90 min (γ = 0.318, P = 0.014), PG at 120 min (γ = 0.336, P = 0.009), HbA1c level (γ = 0.306, P = 0.015), PG increase at 90 min (PGΔ90) (γ = 0.310, P = 0.017), and PGΔ120 (γ = 0.338, P = 0.009) were significantly correlated with the left CIMT. In multiple regression analysis, the HbA1c level, PGΔ90, and PGΔ120 were significantly associated with the left CIMT (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Ultrasound-measured CIMT, especially the left CIMT, is a reasonable glucose metabolic indicator of atherosclerotic vascular complications in obese children.