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Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Adulthood
Jarkko S Heiskanen1,2, Saku Ruohonen3,2,4, Suvi P Rovio3,2
1Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; jsheis@utu.fi.
Insights
Childhood adiposity and physical activity impact adult heart function. Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active in youth are crucial for better left ventricular diastolic function later in life.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood are known to affect left ventricular (LV) diastolic function.
- The impact of childhood cardiovascular risk factor burden on adult LV diastolic function remains largely unknown.
- Understanding these early life links is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between childhood cardiovascular risk factors and LV diastolic function in adulthood.
- To identify specific childhood risk factors that predict impaired or preserved LV diastolic function in later life.
- To provide evidence for early intervention strategies to promote cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (N=1871, 34-49 years old).
- Assessed cumulative childhood risk exposure (ages 6-18) including blood pressure, adiposity, physical activity, and lipid profiles.
- Measured adulthood LV diastolic function using the E/é ratio.
Main Results:
- Elevated childhood systolic blood pressure and increased adiposity were linked to worse adult LV diastolic function (P < .001).
- Higher childhood physical activity was associated with better adult LV diastolic function (P < .001).
- Childhood adiposity and physical activity associations remained significant after adjustments, while the blood pressure link became non-significant.
Conclusions:
- Childhood adiposity and physical activity levels are independently associated with adult LV diastolic function.
- Early life lifestyle factors play a significant role in shaping long-term cardiac health.
- Targeting childhood adiposity and promoting physical activity may prevent diastolic dysfunction in adulthood.
Background And Objectives:
Cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, blood pressure, and physical inactivity, have been identified as modifiable determinants of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in adulthood. However, the links between childhood cardiovascular risk factor burden and adulthood LV diastolic function are unknown. To address this lack of knowledge, we aimed to identify childhood risk factors associated with LV diastolic function in the participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
Methods:
Study participants (N = 1871; 45.9% men; aged 34-49 years) were examined repeatedly between the years 1980 and 2011. We determined the cumulative risk exposure in childhood (age 6-18 years) as the area under the curve for systolic blood pressure, adiposity (defined by using skinfold and waist circumference measurements), physical activity, serum insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols. Adulthood LV diastolic function was defined by using E/é ratio.
Results:
Elevated systolic blood pressure and increased adiposity in childhood were associated with worse adulthood LV diastolic function, whereas higher physical activity level in childhood was associated with better adulthood LV diastolic function (P < .001 for all). The associations of childhood adiposity and physical activity with adulthood LV diastolic function remained significant (both P < .05) but were diluted when the analyses were adjusted for adulthood systolic blood pressure, adiposity, and physical activity. The association between childhood systolic blood pressure and adult LV diastolic function was diluted to nonsignificant (P = .56).
Conclusions:
Adiposity status and the level of physical activity in childhood are independently associated with LV diastolic function in adulthood.
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