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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Obesity | Research article

A cardiovascular disease risk factor in children with congenital heart disease: unmasking elevated waist circumference - a CHAMPS* study *CHAMPS: Children’s Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan

Authors: Erin Barbour-Tuck, Natasha G. Boyes, Corey R. Tomczak, Dana S. Lahti, Chantelle L. Baril, Charissa Pockett, Shonah Runalls, Ashok Kakadekar, Scott Pharis, Timothy J. Bradley, Kristi D. Wright, Marta C. Erlandson

Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have an elevated risk of future cardiovascular disease but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Abdominal obesity (measured as waist circumference) is a risk factor for adult onset of cardiovascular diseases and is correlated with low physical activity levels, commonly found in children with congenital heart disease. Elevated waist circumference may be a mechanism by which cardiovascular disease risk is elevated in children with CHD. The purpose of this study was to compare waist circumference between children with and without CHD, while considering potential confounders. We hypothesized that children with CHD would have higher measures of waist circumference when controlling for differences in birthweight, lean mass, and physical activity.

Methods

Thirty-two children with CHD (10.9 ± 2.6 years; 12 female) from the Children’s Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan, and 23 healthy controls (11.7 ± 2.5 years; 10 female) were studied. Waist circumference, physical activity (physical activity questionnaire), body composition (lean mass; dual x-ray absorptiometry), and birthweight were assessed. Analysis of covariance, Mann-Whitney U, and independent sample t-tests were used to assess group differences (p < 0.05).

Results

Children with CHD had greater waist circumference than controls, controlling for lean mass, physical activity, birthweight, and sex (F (1, 49) = 4.488, p = 0.039). Physical activity, lean mass, and birthweight were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings generate a novel hypothesis—higher waist circumferences in children with CHD compared to age-matched controls, may contribute to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Title: A cardiovascular disease risk factor in children with congenital heart disease: unmasking elevated waist circumference - a CHAMPS* study *CHAMPS: Children’s Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan
Authors: Erin Barbour-Tuck
Natasha G. Boyes
Corey R. Tomczak
Dana S. Lahti
Chantelle L. Baril
Charissa Pockett
Shonah Runalls
Ashok Kakadekar
Scott Pharis
Timothy J. Bradley
Kristi D. Wright
Marta C. Erlandson
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Obesity
Obesity
Ventricular Septal Defect
Ventricular Septal Defect
Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2261
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-020-01508-y

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A cardiovascular disease risk factor in children with congenital heart disease: unmasking elevated waist circumference - a CHAMPS* study *CHAMPS: Children’s Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Background

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Conclusion

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