OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children with obesity.

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty-one obese children and 24 non-obese children as control were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride, blood pressure, liver function, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were examined. The obese children were classified into two subgroups according to the diagnosis criteria: group 1 without liver disorder (OCWLD group, n=75) and group 2 with NAFLD (NAFLD group, n=156). The incidences of hyperlipidemia and hypertension, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and biochemical indicators were compared in the three groups.

RESULTSThe NAFLD group showed significantly greater carotid IMT (0.066+/-0.021 cm) than the OCWLD (0.060+/-0.011 cm) and control groups (0.037+/-0.007 cm) (P<0.05). The OCWLD group had also thicker IMT than the control group (P<0.05). The incidences of hyperlipidemia and hypertension were 39.7% and 40.4%, respectively in the NAFLD group, which were significantly higher than those in the OCWLD (22.7% and 29.3% respectively)and control groups (4.2% and 12.6% respectively) (P<0.05). The liner stepwise regression analysis showed that the IMT was positively correlated with BMI, NAFLD and ALT (adjusted R2=0.316, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNAFLD may be not only an early marker but also an early state of CVD in obese children. Early diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD is crucial for the prevention of the occurrence and development of CVD.