Effect of age on carotid arterial intima-media thickness in childhood
Tomoko Ishizu1, Toshiyuki Ishimitsu, Hisako Yanagi
1Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, 305-8575, Tsukuba, Japan.
Insights
Childhood arterial thickening, measured by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), increases with age. This finding suggests early physiological changes in artery walls begin in childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early marker of atherosclerosis.
- Understanding IMT development in childhood is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the relationship between IMT and age in healthy children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) and age in healthy children.
- To determine if common cardiovascular risk factors influence IMT in this age group.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution carotid ultrasonography was performed on 60 healthy children (ages 5-14).
- Participants were screened for dyslipidemia and hypertension.
- Statistical analyses were used to assess correlations between IMT, age, and various risk factors.
Main Results:
- Mean IMT showed a significant linear increase with age (IMT = 0.009 * age + 0.35).
- This correlation remained significant after adjusting for gender, parental smoking, blood pressure, BMI, and lipid profiles.
- No significant relationship was found between age-adjusted IMT and adult cardiovascular disease risk factors in children.
- Mean IMT and lumen diameter positively correlated with calculated circulating blood volume.
Conclusions:
- Age-dependent physiological thickening of arterial walls commences in childhood.
- Early detection and monitoring of IMT may be valuable for pediatric cardiovascular risk assessment.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of childhood IMT changes.
Abstract:
To investigate relationships between carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) and age in childhood, we performed high-resolution carotid arterial ultrasonography in 60 healthy children (27 boys, 33 girls; age range, 5-14 years) determined by screening to have no dyslipidemia or hypertension. No plaque formation was found, and irregularity of IMT (root mean square roughness of IMT) did not correlate with age. Mean IMT increased in a linear manner with age [IMT in millimeters = (0.009 x age in years) + 0.35] ( r = 0.39, P = 0.002). This correlation remained significant after adjustment for gender, parental smoking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, and serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. None of these known cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults had a significant relationship with age-adjusted IMT in children. While circumferential wall stress and diastolic blood pressure were not correlated with age, mean IMT and lumen diameter showed significant positive relationships with circulating blood volume, which was calculated as the function of height and weight. These data suggested that age-dependent physiologic thickening of arterial walls begins in childhood.
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