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Inflammation markers are associated with cardiovascular diseases risk in adolescents: the Young Hearts project 2000
Nienke J Wijnstok1, Jos W R Twisk, Ian S Young
1Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. nienke.wijnstok@falw.vu.nl
Insights
Novel biomarkers like hsCRP and sICAM are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adolescents. While hsCRP and sICAM show a positive link, soluble vascular adhesion molecules (sVCAM) have an inverse relationship, suggesting complex CVD mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Adolescent Health
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment relies on biological factors and lifestyle.
- Emerging biomarkers include high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (sICAM), and soluble vascular adhesion molecules (sVCAM), linked to inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.
- The association of these novel biomarkers with CVD risk in adolescents is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hsCRP, sICAM, and sVCAM and CVD risk in an adolescent population.
- To determine if novel biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are associated with CVD risk in young individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Young Hearts 2000 cross-sectional cohort study (1999-2001).
- Included 95 obese, 95 overweight, and 95 normal-weight adolescents, matched for age, sex, and smoking status.
- Calculated clustered CVD risk using a sum of Z-scores for biological risk factors and employed multiple linear regression analyses.
Main Results:
- hsCRP and sICAM demonstrated a significant positive association with CVD risk.
- sVCAM exhibited a significant inverse relationship with CVD risk.
- Lifestyle factors did not show a significant association with CVD risk in this adolescent cohort.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the potential role of low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in CVD risk among asymptomatic adolescents.
- The inverse association of sVCAM with CVD risk suggests complex underlying mechanisms that warrant further investigation.
- Additional research is necessary to clarify the precise role of these biomarkers in adolescent CVD risk assessment.
Purpose:
The traditional approach for identifying subjects at risk from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is to determine the extent of clustering of biological risk factors adjusted for lifestyle. Recently, markers of endothelial dysfunction and low grade inflammation, including high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (sICAM), and soluble vascular adhesion molecules (sVCAM), have been included in the detection for high risk individuals. However, the relationship of these novel biomarkers with CVD risk in adolescents remains unclear. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to establish the association of hsCRP, sICAM, and sVCAM with CVD risk in an adolescent population.
Methods:
Data from the Young Hearts 2000 cross-sectional cohort study, carried out in 1999-2001, were used. From a total of 2,017 male and female participants, 95 obese subjects were identified and matched according to age, sex, and cigarette smoking, with 95 overweight and 95 normal-weight adolescents. Clustered CVD risk was computed using a sum of Z-scores of biological risk factors. The relationship was described using multiple linear regression analyses.
Results:
hsCRP, sICAM, and sVCAM showed significant associations with CVD risk. hsCRP and sICAM had a positive relation with CVD risk, whereas sVCAM showed an inverse relationship. In this study, lifestyle factors showed no relation with CVD risk.
Conclusion:
The results fit the hypothesized role of low grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in CVD risk in asymptomatic adolescents. The inverse relationship of VCAM, however, is hard to explain and indicates the complex mechanisms underlying CVD. Further research is needed to draw firm conclusions on the biomarkers used.
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