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Published on: January 14, 2014
Associations between respiratory and vascular function in early childhood
Emily J Hemstock1, Jingyi Shao1, Bing Zhao1
1Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Insights
Peripheral lung stiffness in young children is linked to vascular stiffness. This association between respiratory and cardiovascular health appears early in life and is not significantly affected by common risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health in Children
- Environmental Health
Background:
- The link between lung and vascular health is established in adults, but data in young children are limited.
- Existing studies often focus on high-risk pediatric populations.
- This study investigates the respiratory-cardiovascular link in a general pediatric cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if an association exists between respiratory and cardiovascular function in young children (3-5 years).
- To assess if this relationship is confounded by known cardiorespiratory risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a prospective cohort study of children aged 3-5 years.
- Measured respiratory function using the forced oscillation technique (resistance, reactance, area under the reactance curve).
- Assessed vascular health via carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity.
Main Results:
- Peripheral lung function (reactance and area under the reactance curve) was associated with vascular function.
- Respiratory system resistance did not show a significant association with vascular function.
- Adjustments for maternal smoking, maternal education, and PM2.5 exposure had minimal impact on the observed associations.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral lung stiffness is associated with vascular stiffness in young children.
- This relationship is established early in life.
- The association is largely independent of maternal smoking, education, and early life PM2.5 exposure.
Background And Objective:
The link between respiratory and vascular health is well documented in adult populations. Impaired lung function is consistently associated with thicker arteries and higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, there are limited data on this relationship in young children and the studies that exist have focussed on populations at high risk of cardiorespiratory morbidity. We determined if an association exists between respiratory and cardiovascular function in young children and, if so, whether it is confounded by known cardiorespiratory risk factors.
Methods:
Respiratory and vascular data from a prospective cohort study established to evaluate the health implications 3 years after coal mine fire smoke exposure in children aged 3-5 years were used. Respiratory function was measured using the forced oscillation technique and included resistance at 5 Hz (R5 ), reactance at 5 Hz (X5 ) and area under the reactance curve (AX). Vascular health was measured by carotid intima-media thickness (ultrasound) and pulse wave velocity (arterial tonometry). Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between the respiratory Z-scores and cardiovascular measures. Subsequent analyses were adjusted for potential confounding by maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal education and exposure to fine particulate matter <2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5 ).
Results:
Peripheral lung function (X5 and AX), but not respiratory system resistance (R5 ), was associated with vascular function. Adjustment for maternal smoking, maternal education and early life exposure to PM2.5 had minimal effect on these associations.
Conclusion:
These observations suggest that peripheral lung stiffness is associated with vascular stiffness and that this relationship is established early in life.
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