{"id":5658,"date":"2026-07-31T11:42:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cvja.co.za\/journal\/?p=5658"},"modified":"2026-07-31T11:42:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:42:54","slug":"cvja-2026-029","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cvja.co.za\/journal\/cvja-2026-029\/","title":{"rendered":"Body mass index predicts ventricular repolarisation in obese children: differential effects across obesity levels"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\nMetin Karayakal\u0131, Kay\u0131han Karaman, Tuba Kasap, Volkan Y\u0131lmaz\r\n<\/div> \r\n<\/div> \r\n
\r\n Copyright:<\/strong> Clinics Cardive Publishing (Pty) Ltd. publisher\r\n of Cardiovascular Journal of Africa.<\/div>\r\n
<\/div> \r\n
\r\n
\r\n Abstract \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n Background:<\/strong> \r\n \r\nChildhood obesity is associated with cardiac electrical remodelling, yet the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ventricular repolarisation (VR) heterogeneity remains incompletely characterised in paediatric obesity.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Methods:<\/strong> \r\n \r\nThis prospective observational comparative study enrolled 184 children (112 obese, 72 normal-weight; age 8\u201317 years). Electrocardiographic analysis included traditional QT parameters and novel VR parameters (Tp-e interval, Tp-e\/QT, Tp-e\/QTc ratios). Multiple linear regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses identified independent predictors and clinically applicable thresholds.\r\n
\r\n \r\n Results:<\/strong> \r\nObese children demonstrated significantly prolonged Tp-e intervals (87.83 \u00b1 12.35 vs. 80.10 \u00b1 16.80 ms, p = 0.002) and elevated Tp-e\/QTc ratios (0.211 \u00b1 0.028 vs. 0.192 \u00b1 0.034, p < 0.001). BMI emerged as the independent predictor of VR heterogeneity (\u03b2 = 0.308, p < 0.001), after adjustment for insulin resistance, metabolic parameters, and echocardiographic findings. Regression analyses revealed differences in the BMI-repolarisation relationship: strong association in normal-weight children (\u03b2 = 0.353, p = 0.003), disappearing in established obesity (\u03b2 = \u20130.041, p = 0.699), and a significant BMI \u00d7 group interaction was observed (\u03b2 = \u20132.079, p = 0.001). ROC analysis identified BMI \u2265 23.1 kg\/m\u00b2 as the optimal threshold for abnormal repolarisation (AUC = 0.682, sensitivity 76.1%, specificity 50.0%, p < 0.001).\r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Conclusions:<\/strong> \r\n \r\nChildhood obesity is associated with ventricular repolarisation abnormalities independent of metabolic dysfunction and structural cardiac changes. This study suggests that repolarisation abnormalities occur in the early stages of obesity and through different pathophysiological mechanisms. The defined BMI threshold provides a clinically applicable tool for early risk stratification, highlighting the critical importance of intervention before obesity becomes established.\r\n
\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n Keywords:<\/strong> \r\n \r\n body mass index, arrhythmia, repolarisation, electrocardiogram<\/strong> \r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n Submitted:<\/strong> December 14, 2025; \r\n Accepted:<\/strong> May 25, 2026; \r\n Published:<\/strong> July 31, 2026
\r\n Cardiovasc J Afr 2025; 37<\/b>: 282-292<\/em>\r\n
Volume 37, Issue 3<\/strong>
\r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n DOI Citation Reference: dx.doi.org\/10.5830\/CVJA-2026-029 \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nDepartment of Cardiology, Tokat Gaziosmanpa\u015fa University, Tokat, Turkey\r\n\r\n<\/strong>
\r\nMetin Karayakal\u0131
\r\nKay\u0131han Karaman
\r\nVolkan Y\u0131lmaz\r\n

\r\n\r\nDepartment of Pediatric Clinics, Tokat Gaziosmanpa\u015fa University, Tokat, Turkey\r\n\r\n<\/strong>
\r\nTuba Kasap\r\n

\r\n \r\n\r\n [soshsc hide=\"logged\"]\r\n You need to be logged in to view and download<\/a> the full text PDF version. Register for a free account?<\/a><\/strong>

[\/soshsc]\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Childhood obesity is associated with cardiac electrical remodelling, yet the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ventricular repolarisation (VR) heterogeneity remains incompletely characterised in paediatric obesity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cardiovascular-topics","category-volume-37-issue-3"],"yoast_head":"\nBody mass index predicts ventricular repolarisation in obese children: differential effects across obesity levels - Cardiovascular Journal of Africa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Childhood obesity is associated with cardiac electrical remodelling, yet the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ventricular repolarisation (VR) heterogeneity remains incompletely characterised in paediatric obesity.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cvja.co.za\/journal\/cvja-2026-029\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Body mass index predicts ventricular repolarisation in obese children: differential effects across obesity levels - 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