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Lung function is associated with arterial stiffness in children

Julian G Ayer1, Elena G Belousova, Jason A Harmer

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. juliana@chw.edu.au

Plos One
|November 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with lower lung function, specifically reduced forced expiratory volume (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC), show increased vascular stiffness. This early-life association suggests a link between pulmonary health and cardiovascular risk factors from childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Cardiovascular health in children
  • Early life predictors of adult disease

Background:

  • Impaired lung function and cardiovascular disease are linked in older adults, potentially due to aging or smoking.
  • This study explored potential childhood origins of this association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between lung function and carotid augmentation index (AIx), a marker of vascular stiffness, in 8-year-old children.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 249 healthy 8-year-olds using spirometry (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC) and applanation tonometry (carotid AIx75).
  • Collected data on smoking during pregnancy, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, and intervention group (omega-3 or dust mite avoidance).
  • Used multivariate models to assess associations, controlling for sex, height, smoking, ETS, and randomization.

Main Results:

  • Lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was independently associated with increased carotid AIx75 (standardized β = -0.17, p = 0.03).
  • Reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) showed a significant association with higher carotid AIx75 (standardized β = -0.29, p < 0.001).
  • Lower FEV1/FVC ratio was also linked to increased carotid AIx75 (standardized β = 0.13, p = 0.04).

Conclusions:

  • Decreased lung volumes in childhood are associated with heightened vascular stiffness.
  • The link between lung function and vascular stiffness may originate earlier than previously thought, not solely due to aging.
Abstract

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