Subclinical atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease

The effects of a 20-week exercise program on blood-circulating biomarkers related to brain health in overweight or obese children: The ActiveBrains project

BACKGROUND

Emerging research supports the idea that exercise positively affects neurodevelopment. However, the mechanisms linking exercise with brain health are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on (a) blood biomarkers selected based on previous evidence (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), cathepsin B (CTSB), kynurenine, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1)); and (b) a panel of 92 neurology-related proteins (discovery analysis). We also investigated whether changes in these biomarkers mediate the effects of exercise on brain health (hippocampal structure and function, cognitive performance, and mental health).

METHODS

We randomized 81 overweight/obese children (10.1 ± 1.1 years, 41% girls) into 2 groups: either 20 weeks of aerobic plus resistance exercise or control. Candidate biomarkers were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for kynurenine, FGF21, and CTSB; colorimetry for β-hydroxybutyrate; and XMap for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. The 92 neurology-related proteins were analyzed by an antibody-based proteomic analysis.

RESULTS

Our intervention had no significant effect on candidate biomarkers (all p > 0.05). In the discovery analysis, a reduction in circulating macrophage scavenger receptor type-I was observed (standardized differences between groups = -0.3, p = 0.001). This effect was validated using ELISA methods (standardized difference = -0.3, p = 0.01). None of the biomarkers mediated the effects of exercise on brain health.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study does not support a chronic effect of exercise on candidate biomarkers. We observed that while chronic exercise reduced the levels of macrophage scavenger receptor type-I, it did not mediate the effects of exercise on brain health. Future studies should explore the implications of this novel biomarker for overall health.

Clusters of lifestyle behaviors associated with atherosclerosis risk factors in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease: Floripa CHild Study

Secondary cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients. The cardiovascular risk could be widely prevented with adherence to a healthy lifestyle; however, clusters of lifestyle behaviors related to atherosclerosis risk factors in children and adolescents with CHD remain unclear. We aimed to describe the clusters of lifestyle behaviors of children and adolescents with CHD and to evaluate their association with atherosclerosis risk factors. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 227 children and adolescents with CHD (median age:10.02 [IQR:7.08-13.02] years). Dietary intake, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior (SB) were evaluated. Clusters of lifestyle behaviors were determined using a two-step cluster analysis. Atherosclerosis risk factors evaluated include body fat mass, central obesity, blood pressure, lipid parameters, glucose, C-reactive protein, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Multiple logistic regressions were used. The "unhealthy: high SB + low PA" cluster was associated with elevated body fat mass, central obesity, and elevated cIMT. Furthermore, the "unhealthy: low PA + unhealthy eating habits" cluster was associated with elevated body fat mass, central obesity, and elevated glucose. The unhealthier lifestyle behavior clusters were associated with atherosclerosis risk factors in children and adolescents with CHD. Multidisciplinary strategies to promote healthy behaviors are needed to prevent cardiovascular disease in later life.

Changes in lifestyle behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To describe the changes in lifestyle behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and to investigate the association of congenital heart disease complexity with lifestyle behavior changes.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with 127 children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, who underwent cardiac procedure (mean postoperative time: 10.11±3.13 years), conducted between December 2020 and January 2021. Lifestyle behaviors, such as dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, were assessed through telephone interview based on validated questionnaires. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Frequency of general and specific combinations of healthy and unhealthy lifestyle behavior changes was evaluated. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to test the association between congenital heart disease complexity and changes in lifestyle behavior.

RESULTS

The main lifestyle behaviors acquired during pandemic were: 83.5% decreased physical activity; 37.0% increased sedentary behavior; 26.0% slept more than usual; and 23.6% adopted a less-healthy dietary pattern. Almost half of the participants (41.8%) had at least one unhealthy change in lifestyle behavior. Complex congenital heart diseases were associated with increased sedentary behavior (OR 3.49, 95%CI 1.23-9.90).

CONCLUSIONS

Children and adolescents with congenital heart disease had unhealthy lifestyle behavior during the pandemic, mainly in the form of reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior.