Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction without left ventricular hypertrophy in obese children and adolescents: a Tissue Doppler Imaging and Cardiac Troponin I Study.

Background: Obesity increases the risk for various cardiovascular problems. Increase in body mass index is often an independent risk factor for the development of elevated blood pressure and clustering of various cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To determine early markers of left ventricular affection in obese patients before the appearance of left ventricular hypertrophy.