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Childhood infections and common carotid intima media thickness in adolescence

A C Prins-van Ginkel1,2, P C J Bruijning-Verhagen1,2, A H Wijga3

  • 1Center for Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Epidemiology and Infection
|November 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Childhood infections generally do not impact adolescent common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). However, increased infections and antibiotic use in early childhood may be linked to higher CIMT in adolescents from low-education backgrounds.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis, a process measurable by common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), may be influenced by early-life inflammatory responses.
  • Childhood infections are hypothesized to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the frequency of infectious diseases in early childhood and common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in adolescence.
  • To explore potential links between childhood infections and subclinical atherosclerosis markers.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort.
  • Measured common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) at age 16.
  • Collected data on general practitioner (GP)-diagnosed infections, antibiotic prescriptions, and parent-reported infections during the first four years of life.
  • Employed linear regression analysis to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • No overall association was found between the number of childhood infections and adolescent CIMT.
  • Subgroup analysis revealed significant positive associations between higher numbers of GP-diagnosed infections (2-3 or ≥7) or antibiotic prescriptions (≥3) and increased CIMT in participants with low parental education.
  • These specific associations suggest a potential link in vulnerable subgroups.

Conclusions:

  • Early childhood infections, in general, do not appear to be associated with common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in adolescence.
  • A higher burden of infections and antibiotic use in early childhood may be associated with increased CIMT in adolescents from low socioeconomic backgrounds, warranting further investigation.

Keywords:
Childrenepidemiologyinfectious diseasesintima media thickness

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