Children with heart disease risk factors have high risk for atherosclerosis as adults

Children with heart disease risk factors have high risk for atherosclerosis as adults

Study Highlight:

•As early as age 9, children who had the most heart disease risk factors had an increased risk of having thicker carotid artery walls, an early heart disease indicator.


DALLAS, Nov. 29, 2010 – Measuring heart disease risk factors in children at or after age 9 helped predict the likelihood of atherosclerosis in adulthood, according to a study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Atherosclerosis is a slow build-up of plaque in the inner lining of the arteries, and it often starts in childhood.

In the study, researchers investigated at what age childhood heart disease risk factors had the most influence on adult carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker that may indicate early atherosclerosis. The carotid artery supplies oxygenated blood to the head and neck, and its thickness is measured using non-invasive ultrasound.

Researchers pooled data of 4,380 participants in four similar studies that included heart disease risk factors in children and IMT measurements in adulthood.

As early as age 9, children who had the most heart disease risk factors — high levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and greater body mass index — had a 37 percent increased risk of elevated adult IMT compared to all other children.

By age 12, children in the highest heart disease risk factor group had a 48 percent increased risk of elevated adult IMT. The risk rose to 56 percent at age 15.

The study suggests that an emphasis on a heart-healthy lifestyle must begin in childhood, said Markus Juonala, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and adjunct professor at Turku University Hospital in Turku, Finland.

“Doctors should know that, based on this assessment, cardiovascular risk assessment is beneficial after age 9,” Juonala said. “Public health officials should take note that more policies are needed to fight obesity, as all the risk factors that we investigated are obesity-related.”

###

Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association’s policy or position. The association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.americanheart.org/corporatefunding.

NR10– 1183 (Circ/Juonala)

Contact information: Dr. Juonala can be reached at (011) 358-2-3130503; mataju@utu.fi. (Please do not publish contact information.)

Additional resources:

•Downloadable stock footage, animation and our image gallery are located at www.heart.org/news under Multimedia.

Children with heart disease risk factors have high risk for atherosclerosis as adults