Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2025
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Should We Be Screening for Ischaemic Heart Disease Earlier in Childhood?
Pier Paolo Bassareo1,2,3, Stephen T O'Brien2, Esme Dunne2
1Mater Misercordiae Hospital, Mater, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Childhood atherosclerosis, a precursor to adult ischemic heart disease, requires early detection and intervention. This review explores childhood coronary artery disease, its risk factors, and preventative strategies for long-term cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of mortality in adults.
- Current focus often overlooks early-life origins of cardiovascular disease.
- Childhood represents a critical window for preventing adult atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and forms of coronary artery disease in children.
- To identify predisposing factors for atherosclerosis development during childhood.
- To explore strategies for early detection and risk reduction of atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pediatric coronary artery disease.
- Analysis of risk factors contributing to childhood atherosclerosis.
- Synthesis of current and potential preventative strategies.
Main Results:
- Atherosclerosis can begin in childhood, influenced by various predisposing factors.
- Early identification of risk factors is crucial for intervention.
- Proactive childhood strategies can mitigate adult cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions:
- Addressing atherosclerosis in childhood is essential for reducing adult ischemic heart disease.
- Early detection and management of pediatric cardiovascular risk factors are paramount.
- Implementing childhood preventative strategies can significantly impact long-term public health.
Abstract:
Ischaemic heart disease is the most common cause of death in males and the second in the female gender. Yet we often only focus on identification and treatment of this foremost cause of death in adulthood. The review asks the question what form of coronary disease do we encounter in childhood, what predisposing factors give rise to atherosclerosis and what strategies in childhood could we employ to detect and reduce atherosclerosis development in later life.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...