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A life span approach to cardiovascular disease risk and aging: the Fels Longitudinal Study
Karen E Remsberg1, Roger M Siervogel
1Lifespan Health Research Center, Wright State University School of Medicine, 3171 Research Boulevard, Kettering, OH 45420-4014, USA. karen.remsberg@wright.edu
Insights
Childhood health indicators predict adult cardiovascular disease risk. Tracking body composition and blood pressure from a young age can serve as an early warning system for chronic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular health
- Pediatric health
- Chronic disease epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in developed countries.
- Chronic diseases like coronary heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes are linked to adult body composition, lipids, and blood pressure.
- Evaluating aging populations requires understanding cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine health status indicators during early life.
- To investigate the relationship between early life health indicators and the development of adult chronic disease risk factors.
- To determine if childhood health indicators can predict future cardiovascular disease risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing data from the Fels Longitudinal Study.
- Tracking health status indicators including body composition, blood pressure, lipids, maturation, and hormones from childhood to adulthood.
- Analyzing the long-term tracking of these indicators over time.
Main Results:
- Health status indicators show consistent tracking from childhood into adulthood.
- Childhood and adolescent risk factors for chronic diseases have been identified.
- Early warning systems for future cardiovascular disease risk can be established through childhood data.
Conclusions:
- Health status indicators measured in early life are predictive of adult chronic disease risk.
- Childhood and adolescence represent critical periods for identifying individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease.
- Longitudinal tracking of health indicators provides valuable insights into cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.
Abstract:
As the leading cause of chronic disease mortality in developed nations, cardiovascular disease is a widely prevalent condition that is integral to evaluation of aging populations. Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes have been associated with adulthood body composition-namely excess body fat, altered lipid levels and elevated blood pressures. The Fels Longitudinal Study conducted at the Lifespan Health Research Center at Wright State University's School of Medicine has examined these same health status indicators-body composition, blood pressure, lipids, maturation, and hormones-during early life and their relationships to developing risk factors for these chronic diseases in adulthood. Research conducted during the past 10 years has shown health status indicators to track over time from childhood to adulthood. Furthermore, chronic disease risk factors attained during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood may represent an early warning system for future risk of developing cardiovascular disease.