Carotid stiffness in young adults: a life-course analysis of its early determinants: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study

Early-Life Risk Factors for Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Carotid Stiffness in Adolescence

Importance

Atherogenesis starts during childhood, making childhood and adolescence an important window of opportunity to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease later in life.

Objective

To identify early-life risk factors for preclinical atherosclerosis in adolescence.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study is part of the ongoing Wheezing Illness Study in Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER) prospective birth cohort study, which includes 3005 healthy newborns born between December 2001 and December 2012 in the Leidsche Rijn area of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Eligible participants included those from the WHISTLER cohort who visited the clinic between March 2019 and October 2020 for adolescent follow-up. This study's analyses were performed in January 2024.

Exposures

Early-life growth was assessed at birth to 6 months, 5 years, and 12 to 16 years. Abdominal ultrasonography determined abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) depth. Blood pressure (BP) percentiles and body mass index (BMI) z scores were used.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Carotid ultrasonography was performed at age 12 to 16 years to assess carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the distensibility coefficient (DC), established measures of preclinical atherosclerosis. Multivariable linear regression models were used to identify early-life risk factors for cIMT and DC in adolescence.

Results

In total, 232 adolescents (median [IQR] age, 14.9 [13.7-15.8] years; 121 female [52.2%]) were included. More postnatal weight gain (B = 12.34; 95% CI, 2.39 to 22.39), higher systolic BP at 5 years (B = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.02 to 1.01), more VAT at 5 years (B = 3.48; 95% CI, 1.55 to 5.40), and a larger change in VAT between 5 and 12 to 16 years (B = 3.13; 95% CI, 1.87 to 4.39) were associated with a higher cIMT in adolescence. A higher BMI (B = -2.70, 95% CI,-4.59 to -0.80) and VAT at 5 years (B = -0.56; 95% CI, -0.87 to -0.25), as well as a larger change in BMI between 5 and 12 to 16 years (B = -3.63; 95% CI, -5.66 to -1.60) were associated with a higher carotid stiffness in adolescence. On the contrary, a larger change in SAT between 5 and 12 to 16 years (B = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.58) was associated with a higher carotid DC in adolescence.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of 232 participants, early-life growth parameters, and particularly abdominal VAT development, were associated with a higher cIMT and carotid stiffness in adolescence. These findings suggest that assessment of adipose tissue development during childhood can aid characterization of lifetime risk trajectories and tailoring of cardiovascular prevention and risk management strategies.

Association Between Cardiovascular Health and Subclinical Atherosclerosis Among Young Adults Using the American Heart Association's "Life's Essential 8" Metrics

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the association of American Heart Association's cardiovascular health guidelines Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and Life's Simple 7 (LS7) with carotid artery outcomes among young adults.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This cross-sectional study included 240 young adults (age 24.2±1.6 years) who underwent a carotid ultrasound between 2018 and 2022. LE8 score was calculated from 4 health factors (body mass index, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, and blood pressure), and 4 health behaviors (dietary intake, physical activity, tobacco use, and sleep). LS7 was calculated from 7 metrics (all LE8 metrics, except for sleep) with a simpler algorithm. Higher LE8 and LS7 scores both indicate better health and better adherence to American Heart Association guidelines. Carotid artery outcomes included carotid artery intima-media thickness, arterial stiffness (eg, distensibility), and echogenicity determined by grayscale median of the intima media complex. Results of linear regression analyses, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and parents' highest degree, indicated that a 1-SD increase in LE8 score was associated with 12.14 μm lower carotid artery intima-media thickness (95% CI, -20.93 to 3.35), 1.17 (10-6×m2/N) greater distensibility (95% CI, 0.09-2.24), suggesting less arterial stiffness, and 2.66 μm greater grayscale median of the intima media complex (95% CI, 0.58-4.75), suggesting less lipid deposition. Analyses using LS7 score demonstrated comparable findings. Health factor metrics demonstrated stronger association with carotid artery outcomes, as compared with behavior metrics.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater adherence to the American Heart Association's cardiovascular health guidelines is associated with lower risk for subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults. LE8 and LS7 demonstrated comparable associations with carotid artery outcomes.

Evaluation of common carotid artery wall stiffness by shear wave elastography in smokers and non-smokers

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is one of the most important preventable causes of cardiovascular diseases. Vascular disease caused by smoking is associated with vascular endothelial damage, platelet aggregation, and adhesion. In our study, we examined the effect of chronic smoking on vessel wall stiffness in smokers and control group by measuring carotid artery wall stiffness by shear wave ultrasonography.

METHODS

Sixty-two smokers of similar ages and genders, and 67 people who never smoked in the last ten years were included as the control group in this cross-sectional study. Arterial wall stiffness over the common carotid arteries of all participants was measured by shear wave elastography (SWE). In addition, each patient's blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), HDL and LDL cholesterol measurements were recorded.

RESULTS

Arterial wall stiffness values in smokers were found to be statistically significantly higher than in non-smokers. The mean of SWE measurements of the smokers was 47.3 ± 6.2 kPa, and that of the control group was 42.9 ± 4 kPa. The mean values of HDL and LDL of the smokers were 46.9 ± 5.6 mg/dL and 147.3 ± 9.3 mg/dL, respectively, and those of the control group were 50.3 ± 5.1 mg/dL and 136.9 ± 5.9 mg/dL. The LDL cholesterol values were statistically significantly higher in smokers compared to the control group, and HDL cholesterol values were statistically significantly lower in smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, the arterial wall stiffness values measured by the SWE technique were higher in smokers than non-smokers.

Association of blood pressure and heart rate with carotid markers of vascular remodeling in the young: a case for early prevention

OBJECTIVE

The association of childhood blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) with intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease several decades later has been shown, but studies on more short-term outcomes are scarce. Using population-based data, this study investigates the association of four BP parameters and HR in childhood with three carotid markers for vascular remodeling one decade later.

METHODS

At the 11-year follow-up, 4607 participants of the nationwide KiGGS cohort aged 14 to 28 years had semi-automated sonographic carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) measurements. We investigated associations of baseline (age 3-17 years) and follow-up SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) and resting heart rate (RHR), with CIMT and lumen diameter at or above the 90th percentile and distensibility coefficient at or below the tenth percentile in logistic regressions. Analyses were further adjusted using a composite cardiovascular risk (CVR) score of BMI, triglycerides, total/HDL-cholesterol-ratio and HbA1c.

RESULTS

SBP, DBP, MAP and RHR were significantly and similarly associated with all carotid measures 11 years later, for example an odds ratio (OR) of 1.17 [confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.29] for one standard deviation SBP increase with elevated CIMT when adjusting for sex, age and CVR score. Cross-sectionally, the strongest association was found for MAP with reduced distensibility coefficient (OR 1.76; CI 1.59-1.94).

CONCLUSION

This population-based cohort study shows robust and consistent associations between childhood BP and RHR and three carotid measures of vascular remodeling only one decade later, clearly underscoring the potential importance of preventing high BP already early in the life course.

Longitudinal development of central SBP in children with congenital heart disease

AIMS

Central SBP (cSBP) was shown to be increased already in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, its development over time has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural course of cSBP over time from longitudinal assessment in children with CHD.

METHODS

In this longitudinal study, 306 children and adolescents (11.3 ± 2.9 years, 34% girls) with various CHD were prospectively examined from July 2014 to May 2022. Over a mean follow-up length of 30.1 ± 18.9 months, 467 follow-up assessments have been conducted. cSBP was noninvasively assessed by oscillometric measurement via Mobil-O-Graph. A linear mixed effect model was performed to examine the course of cSBP.

RESULTS

cSBP increased significantly over time by 1.22 mmHg per year of age (P < 0.001). The longitudinal increase in cSBP over time remained significant when including sex (b = 0.68, P < 0.001), BMI (b = 1.12, P < 0.001), hypertensive medication (b = 1.13, P < 0.001), disease severity (b = 1.04, P < 0.001), and CHD type (b = 3.74, P = 0.03) in the model. Patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after arterial switch had a significantly higher cSBP increase over time (b = 1.78, P < 0.001). The longitudinal cSBP increase was significantly higher in obese CHD children (b = 2.52, P = 0.005) and in boys (b = 0.85, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study shows a longitudinal increase in cSBP in children with CHD. Whether observed trajectories of cSBP are normal or abnormal needs to be investigated in further studies. Monitoring of the vascular function with a special focus on patients with TGA and obese CHD children seems indicated.

Central and local arterial stiffness in White Europeans compared to age-, sex-, and BMI-matched South Asians

BACKGROUND

Ethnicity impacts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and South Asians demonstrate a higher risk than White Europeans. Arterial stiffness is known to contribute to CVD, and differences in arterial stiffness between ethnicities could explain the disparity in CVD risk. We compared central and local arterial stiffness between White Europeans and South Asians and investigated which factors are associated with arterial stiffness.

METHODS

Data were collected from cohorts of White Europeans (the Netherlands) and South Asians (India). We matched cohorts on individual level using age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Arterial stiffness was measured with ARTSENS® Plus. Central stiffness was expressed as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV, m/s), and local carotid stiffness was quantified using the carotid stiffness index (Beta) and pressure-strain elastic modulus (Epsilon, kPa). We compared arterial stiffness between cohorts and used multivariable linear regression to identify factors related to stiffness.

RESULTS

We included n = 121 participants per cohort (age 53±10 years, 55% male, BMI 24 kg/m2). Cf-PWV was lower in White Europeans compared to South Asians (6.8±1.9 vs. 8.2±1.8 m/s, p<0.001), but no differences were found for local stiffness parameters Beta (5.4±2.4 vs. 5.8±2.3, p = 0.17) and Epsilon (72±35 vs. 70±31 kPa, p = 0.56). Age (standardized β, 95% confidence interval: 0.28, 0.17-0.39), systolic blood pressure (0.32, 0.21-0.43), and South Asian ethnicity (0.46, 0.35-0.57) were associated with cf-PWV; associations were similar between cohorts (p>0.05 for interaction). Systolic blood pressure was associated with carotid stiffness in both cohorts, whereas age was associated to carotid stiffness only in South Asians and BMI only in White Europeans.

CONCLUSION

Ethnicity is associated with central but not local arterial stiffness. Conversely, ethnicity seems to modify associations between CVD risk factors and local but not central arterial stiffness. This suggests that ethnicity interacts with arterial stiffness measures and the association of these measures with CVD risk factors.

Blood pressure and cardiovascular risk in relation to birth weight and urinary sodium: an individual-participant meta-analysis of European family-based population studies

BACKGROUND

Although the relation of salt intake with blood pressure (BP) is linear, it is U-shaped for mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This individual-participant meta-analysis explored whether the relation of hypertension, death or CVD with 24-h urinary sodium excretion (UVNA) or sodium-to-potassium (UNAK) ratio was modified by birth weight.

METHODS

Families were randomly enrolled in the Flemish Study on Genes, Environment and Health Outcomes (1985-2004) and the European Project on Genes in Hypertension (1999-2001). Categories of birth weight, UVNA and UNAK (≤2500, >2500-4000, >4000 g; <2.3, 2.3-4.6 and >4.6 g; and <1, 1-2, >2, respectively) were coded using deviation-from-mean coding and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival functions and linear and Cox regression.

RESULTS

The study population was subdivided into the Outcome ( n  = 1945), Hypertension ( n  = 1460) and Blood Pressure cohorts ( n  = 1039) to analyze the incidence of mortality and cardiovascular endpoints, hypertension and BP changes as function of UVNA changes. The prevalence of low/medium/high birth weight in the Outcome cohort was 5.8/84.5/9.7%. Over 16.7 years (median), rates were 4.9, 8 and 27.1% for mortality, CVD and hypertension, respectively, but were not associated with birth weight. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were not significant for any endpoint in any of the birth weight, UVNA and UNAK strata. Adult body weight tracked with birth weight ( P  < 0.0001). The partial r in the low-birth-weight group associating changes from baseline to follow-up in UVNA and SBP was 0.68 ( P  = 0.023) but not significant in other birth weight groups.

CONCLUSION

This study did not substantiate its prior hypothesis but showed tracking of adult with birth weight and suggest that low birth weight increases salt sensitivity.

Explainable machine learning framework for predicting long-term cardiovascular disease risk among adolescents

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, over 80% of it is preventable through early intervention and lifestyle changes. Most cases of CVD are detected in adulthood, but the risk factors leading to CVD begin at a younger age. This research is the first to develop an explainable machine learning (ML)-based framework for long-term CVD risk prediction (low vs. high) among adolescents. This study uses longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of individuals who participated in the Add Health study. A total of 14,083 participants who completed relevant survey questionnaires and health tests from adolescence to young adulthood were chosen. Four ML classifiers [decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and deep neural networks (DNN)] and 36 adolescent predictors are used to predict adulthood CVD risk. While all ML models demonstrated good prediction capability, XGBoost achieved the best performance (AUC-ROC: 84.5% and AUC-PR: 96.9% on testing data). Besides, critical predictors of long-term CVD risk and its impact on risk prediction are obtained using an explainable technique for interpreting ML predictions. The results suggest that ML can be employed to detect adulthood CVD very early in life, and such an approach may facilitate primordial prevention and personalized intervention.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension among Women in Southern Ghana: Evidence from 2014 GDHS

Background

Hypertension, coupled with prehypertension and other hazards such as high blood pressure, is responsible for 8·5 million deaths from stroke, ischaemic heart disease, other vascular diseases, and renal disease worldwide. Hypertension is the fifth commonest cause of outpatient morbidity in Ghana. Some evidence have illustrated geographical variation in hypertension and it seems to have a heavy toll on women in southern Ghana compared to the north. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and associatedfactors of hypertension among women in southern Ghana using the most recent demographic and health survey (DHS) data set.

Materials and Methods

This study used data of 5,662 women from the current DHS data from Ghana that was conducted in 2014. Data were extracted from the women's file of the 2014 Ghana DHS. The outcome variable of this current study was hypertension and it was measured by blood pressure, according to guidelines of the Joint National Committee Seven (JNC7). Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to establish the factors associated with hypertension at the individual and community levels.

Results

Prevalence of hypertension among women in southern Ghana was 16%. Women aged 40–44 years (aOR = 8.04, CI = 4.88–13.25) and 45–49 years (aOR = 13.20, CI = 7.96–21.89] had the highest odds of hypertension relative to women aged 15–19 years. Women with two births (aOR = 1.45, CI = 1.01–2.07) and those with three births (aOR = 1.47, CI = 1.01–2.15) had a higher likelihood of being hypertensive. Greater Accra women had higher odds (aOR = 1.35, CI = 1.02–1.79) of being hypertensive relative to the reference category, women from the Western region. Women of Guan ethnicity had a lesser likelihood (aOR = 0.54, CI = 0.29–0.98) of being hypertensive. Women who engaged in agriculture had the least likelihood (aOR = 0.72, CI = 0.52–0.99) of being classified hypertensive compared to unemployed women.

Conclusion

This study has revealed the prevalence of hypertension among women in southern Ghana. The associated factors include age, parity, region, and occupation. As a result, existing interventions need to be appraised in the light of these factors. Of essence is the need for Ghana Health Service to implement wide-embracing health promotion initiatives that accommodate the nutritional, exercise, and lifestyle needs of women in southern Ghana. Having more children is associated with higher propensity of hypertension and consequently, women need to limit childbearing to reduce their chances of being hypertensive. It will also be advisable for women in the Greater Accra region to have frequent hypertension screening, as women in the region exhibited higher hypertension prospects.

Relative Contribution of Blood Pressure in Childhood, Young- and Mid-Adulthood to Large Artery Stiffness in Mid-Adulthood

Background Blood pressure associates with arterial stiffness, but the contribution of blood pressure at different life stages is unclear. We examined the relative contribution of childhood, young- and mid-adulthood blood pressure to mid-adulthood large artery stiffness. Methods and Results The sample comprised 1869 participants from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study who had blood pressure measured in childhood (6-18 years), young-adulthood (21-30 years), and mid-adulthood (33-45 years). Markers of large artery stiffness were pulse wave velocity and carotid distensibility recorded in mid-adulthood. Bayesian relevant life course exposure models were used. For each 10-mm Hg higher cumulative systolic blood pressure across the life stages, pulse wave velocity was 0.56 m/s higher (95% credible interval: 0.49 to 0.63) and carotid distensibility was 0.13%/10 mm Hg lower (95% credible interval: -0.16 to -0.10). Of these total contributions, the highest contribution was attributed to mid-adulthood systolic blood pressure (relative weights: pulse wave velocity, childhood: 2.6%, young-adulthood: 5.4%, mid-adulthood: 92.0%; carotid distensibility, childhood: 5.6%; young-adulthood: 10.1%; mid-adulthood: 84.3%), with the greatest individual contribution coming from systolic blood pressure at the time point when pulse wave velocity and carotid distensibility were measured. The results were consistent for diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure. Conclusions Although mid-adulthood blood pressure contributed most to mid-adulthood large artery stiffness, we observed small contributions from childhood and young-adulthood blood pressure. These findings suggest that the burden posed by arterial stiffness might be reduced by maintaining normal blood pressure levels at each life stage, with mid-adulthood a critical period for controlling blood pressure.

Prevention of atherosclerosis from childhood

Cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis do not typically manifest before middle age; however, the disease process begins early in life. Preclinical atherosclerosis can be quantified with imaging methods in healthy populations long before clinical manifestations present. Cohort studies have shown that childhood exposure to risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia, elevated blood pressure and tobacco smoking, are associated with adult preclinical atherosclerotic phenotypes. Importantly, these long-term effects are substantially reduced if the individual becomes free from the risk factor by adulthood. As participants in the cohorts continue to age and clinical end points accrue, the strongest evidence linking exposure to risk factors in early life with cardiovascular outcomes has begun to emerge. Although science has deciphered the natural course of atherosclerosis, discovered its causal risk factors and developed effective means to intervene, we are still faced with an ongoing global pandemic of atherosclerotic diseases. In general, atherosclerosis goes undetected for too long, and preventive measures, if initiated at all, are inadequate and/or come too late. In this Review, we give an overview of the available literature suggesting the importance of initiating the prevention of atherosclerosis in early life and provide a summary of the major paediatric programmes for the prevention of atherosclerotic disease. We also highlight the limitations of current knowledge and indicate areas for future research.

Childhood-onset depression and arterial stiffness in young adulthood

OBJECTIVES

The literature on childhood-onset depression and future compromised vascular function is suggestive but limited. The objective of this study was to determine if arterial stiffness, a predictor of future cardiovascular disease (CVD), measured in young adulthood, is associated with childhood-onset depression.

METHODS

Cardiometabolic risk factors and pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, were cross-sectionally assessed in young adults with a history of childhood-onset depression (clinical diagnosis of major depressive episode or dysthymic disorder; N = 294 probands; initially recruited via child mental health facilities across Hungary; mean age of first depressive episode = 10.4 years), their never-depressed full biological siblings (N = 269), and never-depressed controls (N = 169). The mean ages of probands, siblings, and controls at the PWV visit were 25.6, 25.0, and 21.7 years, respectively, and 8.8% of the probands were in a current depressive episode.

RESULTS

Controlling for age, sex, age*sex, education, and family clusters, PWV (m/s) did not statistically differ across the groups (probands = 7.01; siblings = 6.98; controls = 6.81). However, after adjusting for key covariates, there were several across-group differences in CVD risk factors: compared to controls, probands and siblings had higher diastolic blood pressure and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, probands had higher triglycerides, and siblings had higher body mass index (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We found limited evidence of an association between a history of childhood-onset depression and young adulthood arterial stiffness. However, our findings of elevated cardiovascular risk factors in those with childhood-onset depression suggest that pediatric depression may predispose to increased CVD risk later in life and warrants further investigation.

Association Between Blood Pressure Control and Arterial Stiffness in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Patients with Hypertension

Background

The severity of arterial stiffness can be evaluated by pulse wave velocity (PWV). This study investigated the association between blood pressure (BP) control and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and elderly Chinese patients with hypertension.

Material/Methods

Three hundred and twelve hypertensive patients were divided according to whether their hypertension was well-controlled or uncontrolled and stratified according to age. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The effect of BP control on arterial stiffness and its severity was assessed by multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Moderate and severe arterial stiffness was detected significantly more often in patients with uncontrolled hypertension than in those with well-controlled hypertension, regardless of age. BaPWV increased by 8.467 cm/s in the study population overall for every 1-mmHg increment in systolic BP and by 8.584, 8.616, and 8.199 cm/s, respectively, in patients aged 45–65, 65–80, and ≥80 years. Regardless of age, the risk of arterial stiffness was 5.93 times higher (95% confidence interval 2.78–12.64) and the risk of a one-grade increase in the severity of arterial stiffness was 4.01 times higher (95% confidence interval 2.51–6.42) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension than in those with well-controlled hypertension.

Conclusions

This study found a positive relationship between baPWV and BP and identified uncontrolled BP as a risk factor for arterial stiffness and its severity. Management of BP within a reasonable range may help to ameliorate arterial stiffness.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, fatness, and the acute blood pressure response to exercise in adolescence

OBJECTIVE

Exaggerated exercise blood pressure (BP) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in adolescence. Cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity (fatness) are independent contributors to cardiovascular risk, but their interrelated associations with exercise BP are unknown. This study aimed to determine the relationships between fitness, fatness, and the acute BP response to exercise in a large birth cohort of adolescents.

METHODS

2292 adolescents from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (aged 17.8 ± 0.4 years, 38.5% male) completed a sub-maximal exercise step test that allowed fitness (VO2 max ) to be determined from workload and heart rate using a validated equation. Exercise BP was measured immediately on test cessation and fatness calculated as the ratio of total fat mass to total body mass measured by DXA.

RESULTS

Post-exercise systolic BP decreased stepwise with tertile of fitness (146 (18); 142 (17); 141 (16) mmHg) but increased with tertile of fatness (138 (15); 142 (16); 149 (18) mmHg). In separate models, fitness and fatness were associated with post-exercise systolic BP adjusted for sex, age, height, smoking, and socioeconomic status (standardized β: -1.80, 95%CI: -2.64, -0.95 mmHg/SD and 4.31, 95%CI: 3.49, 5.13 mmHg/SD). However, when fitness and fatness were included in the same model, only fatness remained associated with exercise BP (4.65, 95%CI: 3.69, 5.61 mmHg/SD).

CONCLUSION

Both fitness and fatness are associated with the acute BP response to exercise in adolescence. The fitness-exercise BP association was not independent of fatness, implying the cardiovascular protective effects of cardiorespiratory fitness may only be realized with more favorable body composition.

Undiagnosed Hypertension in a Workplace: The Case of a Logistics Company in Gauteng, South Africa

A large proportion of the population with hypertension remains undiagnosed, untreated, or inadequately treated, contributing to the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases in South Africa. A workplace may either mitigate or accentuate the risk factors for hypertension. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among 312 employees in a Logistics Company, South Africa. A modified, validated, self-administered WHO STEPwise questionnaire was used to collect data on demography, lifestyle factors, anthropometry and blood pressure (BP). Hypertension was defined at BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg. Data was analysed using STATA 14. Mean age of employees was 40 ± 10 years, with a 50% prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension. No significant association was observed between occupation and undiagnosed hypertension, except for high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among truck drivers and van assistants (43%), and general workers (27%), having higher odds of increased waist-to-height ratio. Hypertension was associated with age (OR = 2.3, 95%CI; 1.21–4.27), alcohol use (AOR = 1.8, 95%CI; 1.05–2.93), waist circumference (AOR = 2.3, 95%CI; 1.29–4.07) and waist-to-height-ratio (AOR = 3.7, 95%CI; 1.85–7.30). Improved and effective workplace health programs and policies are necessary for management of undiagnosed hypertension among employees. Longitudinal studies on mediation of occupation in association of demographic and lifestyle factors with hypertension in workplaces are needed.

Influence of Maternal Lifestyle and Diet on Perinatal DNA Methylation Signatures Associated With Childhood Arterial Stiffness at 8 to 9 Years

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Increases in aortic pulse wave velocity, a measure of arterial stiffness, can lead to elevated systolic blood pressure and increased cardiac afterload in adulthood. These changes are detectable in childhood and potentially originate in utero, where an adverse early life environment can alter DNA methylation patterns detectable at birth. Here, analysis of epigenome-wide methylation patterns using umbilical cord blood DNA from 470 participants in the Southampton’s Women’s Survey identified differential methylation patterns associated with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, arterial distensibility, and descending aorta pulse wave velocity measured by magnetic resonance imaging at 8 to 9 years. Perinatal methylation levels at 16 CpG loci were associated with descending aorta pulse wave velocity, with identified CpG sites enriched in pathways involved in DNA repair (P=9.03×10⁻¹¹). The most significant association was with cg20793626 methylation (within protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D; β=−0.05 m/s/1% methylation change, [95% CI, −0.09 to −0.02]). Genetic variation was also examined but had a minor influence on these observations. Eight pulse wave velocity-linked dmCpGs were associated with prenatal modifiable risk factors, with cg08509237 methylation (within palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-2) associated with maternal oily fish consumption in early and late pregnancy. Lower oily fish consumption in early pregnancy modified the relationship between methylation and pulse wave velocity, with lower consumption strengthening the association between cg08509237 methylation and increased pulse wave velocity. In conclusion, measurement of perinatal DNA methylation signatures has utility in identifying infants who might benefit from preventive interventions to reduce risk of later cardiovascular disease, and modifiable maternal factors can reduce this risk in the child.

Childhood Risk Factors and Adulthood Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on childhood risk factors and their associations with adulthood subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD).

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic search was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases to identify English-language articles published through June 2018. Articles were included if they were longitudinal studies in community-based populations, the primary exposure occurred during childhood, and the primary outcome was either a measure of subclinical CVD or a clinical CVD event occurring in adulthood. Two independent reviewers screened determined whether eligibility criteria were met.

RESULTS

There were 210 articles that met the predefined criteria. The greatest number of publications examined associations of clinical risk factors, including childhood adiposity, blood pressure, and cholesterol, with the development of adult CVD. Few studies examined childhood lifestyle factors including diet quality, physical activity, and tobacco exposure. Domains of risk beyond "traditional" cardiovascular risk factors, such as childhood psychosocial adversity, seemed to have strong published associations with the development of CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the evidence was fairly consistent in direction and magnitude for exposures such as childhood adiposity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, significant gaps remain in the understanding of how childhood health and behaviors translate to the risk of adulthood CVD, particularly in lesser studied exposures like glycemic indicators, physical activity, diet quality, very early life course exposure, and population subgroups.

Longitudinal associations of blood pressure with aortic stiffness and pulsatility: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the longitudinal relationships between blood pressure measured over 24 years and arterial stiffness in late life measured as pulse wave velocity (PWV).

METHODS

Carotid--femoral (cf) and femoral--ankle (fa) PWV were measured in 4166 adults at the visit 5 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study cohort examination (2011-2013). Participants were categorized into tertiles of PWV measurements. Blood pressure measurements were made at baseline (1987-1989), three subsequent triennial examinations, and visit 5.

RESULTS

Partial correlation coefficients between visit 5 cfPWV and SBP ranged from 0.13 for visit 1 SBP to 0.32 for visit 5 SBP. For visit 5 faPWV, correlations were ∼0 for visits 1 to 4 SBP, but was 0.20 for visit 5 SBP. Over 24 years of follow-up, those with higher average SBP were more likely to fall in the middle and upper tertiles of visit 5 cfPWV. Average pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure over 24 years had similar but weaker associations with cfPWV tertiles. DBP had no clear association with cfPWV. Blood pressure measurements were positively associated with faPWV tertiles only cross-sectionally at visit 5.

CONCLUSION

Adult life-course measures of SBP, more so than mean arterial and pulse pressure, were associated with later life central arterial stiffness. By contrast, only contemporaneous measures of blood pressure were associated with peripheral arterial stiffness. Although arterial stiffness was only measured at later life, these results are consistent with the notion that elevated blood pressure over time is involved in the pathogenesis of arterial stiffening.

Higher Total Physical Activity is Associated with Lower Arterial Stiffness in Swedish, Young Adults: The Cross-Sectional Lifestyle, Biomarkers, and Atherosclerosis Study

Purpose

Arterial stiffness describes the rigidity of the arterial walls and is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial stiffness predicts future events and mortality, and the predictive value is stronger in younger versus older subjects. The aims of the present study were, firstly, to present data on physical activity (PA) and time spent sedentary, in the population of Swedish, young adults. Secondly, to explore the association between PA and arterial stiffness.

Material and Methods

Self-reported healthy, non-smoking, Swedish, young adults, 18–25 years old, participated in the cross-sectional Lifestyle, Biomarkers and Atherosclerosis (LBA) study. The daily PA was objectively measured with an accelerometer for 1 week. Of the 834 participants, 658 individuals had valid registrations. The arterial stiffness measures, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were measured with applanation tonometry.

Results

Women were on overall more physically active than men, they spent 214 min/day in light PA (LPA) compared to men who spent 202 min/day. Women took significantly more steps per day than men, 7796 vs 7336 steps/day, and spent less time sedentary, 523 min/day, compared to men who spent 547 min/day sedentary. In total, 76% of the individuals spent on average at least 30 minutes per day in the recommended moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA). Lower arterial stiffness was associated with more MVPA and total PA in the total population.

Conclusion

We conclude that in this age group of young, self-reported healthy adults 18–25 years, it is important to highlight the health-enhancing possibilities of time spent in physical activity on the vascular function, measured as PWV and AIx. It is of high relevance in a public health perspective to expand preventive efforts beyond the high-risk groups and encourage young adults to be physically active.

Childhood traffic-related air pollution and adverse changes in subclinical atherosclerosis measures from childhood to adulthood

BACKGROUND

Chronic exposure to air pollutants is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among adults. However, little is known about how air pollution may affect the development of subclinical atherosclerosis in younger populations. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis that provides insight into early CVD pathogenesis.

METHODS

In a pilot study of 70 participants from the Southern California Children's Health Study, we investigated CIMT progression from childhood to adulthood. Using carotid artery ultrasound images obtained at age 10 and follow-up images at age 21-22, we examined associations between childhood ambient and traffic-related air pollutants with changes in CIMT over time and attained adult CIMT using linear mixed-effects models adjusted for potential confounders. Average residential childhood exposures (i.e., birth to time of measurement at 10-11 years) were assigned for regional, ambient pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, interpolated from regulatory air monitoring data) and traffic-related nitrogen oxides (NO_x) by road class (modeled using the CALINE4 line source dispersion model). Traffic density was calculated within a 300-m residential buffer.

RESULTS

For each 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in childhood traffic-related total NO_x exposure, we observed greater yearly rate of change in CIMT from childhood to adulthood (β: 2.17 μm/yr, 95% CI: 0.78-3.56). Increases in annual rate of CIMT change from childhood to adulthood also were observed with freeway NO_x exposure (β: 2.24 μm/yr, 95% CI: 0.84-3.63) and traffic density (β: 2.11 μm/yr, 95% CI: 0.79-3.43). Traffic exposures were also related to increases in attained CIMT in early adulthood. No associations of CIMT change or attained level were observed with ambient pollutants.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, we observed adverse changes in CIMT over time in relation to childhood traffic-related NO_x exposure and traffic density in our study population. While these results must be cautiously interpreted given the limited sample size, the observed associations of traffic measures with CIMT suggest a need for future studies to more fully explore this relationship.

Life-Course Implications of Pediatric Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

The concept that origins of cardiovascular disease (CVD) begin in childhood is supported by substantial evidence. Prospective studies beginning in childhood report associations of childhood obesity, abnormal blood pressure (BP), dyslipidemia, diabetes, and tobacco use with intermediate CVD markers, including left ventricular hypertrophy and vascular stiffness in young adulthood. Trajectory analyses from longitudinal studies describe discrete BP pathways from childhood to young adult status of hypertension and prehypertension. Among individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia, abnormal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are present in childhood. Some children are at risk for future CVD owing to hereditary factors, psychosocial stress, race, low birth weight, or other nonmodifiable exposures. Behavioural factors, including suboptimal diet, sedentary activity, and tobacco use, in childhood augment risk and can be modified to reduce risk. Pharmacologic treatments are reserved for those at high levels of the BP and cholesterol distributions and for those with diabetes and additional risk factors.

Blood Pressure Increase and Microvascular Dysfunction Accelerate Arterial Stiffening in Children: Modulation by Physical Activity

Background

Atherosclerotic remodeling starts early in life and can accelerate in the presence of cardiovascular risk (CV) factors. Regular physical activity (PA) can mitigate development of large and small artery disease during lifespan. We aimed to investigate the association of changes in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), PA behavior and retinal microvascular diameters with large artery pulse wave velocity (PWV) in prepubertal children over 4 years.

Methods

The school-based prospective cohort study included 262 children initially aged 6–8 years, assessing the above CV risk factors and retinal vessels by standardized procedures at baseline (2014) and follow-up (2018). PWV was assessed by an oscillometric device at follow-up.

Results

Children with increased systolic BP over 4 years showed higher PWV at follow-up (β [95% CI] 0.006 [0.002 to 0.011] mmHg per unit, P = 0.002). In contrast, increased vigorous PA corresponded to a lower PWV at follow-up (β [95% CI] −0.009 [−0.018 to <0−0.001] 10 min/day per unit, P = 0.047). Progression of retinal arteriolar narrowing and venular widening were linked to a higher PWV after 4 years (β [95% CI] −0.014 [−0.023 to −0.004] 0.01 changes per unit, P = 0.003).

Conclusion

Increase in systolic BP and progression of microvascular dysfunction were associated with higher PWV after 4 years. Children with increasing levels of vigorous PA were found to have lower PWV at follow-up. Habitual vigorous PA has the potential to decelerate the process of early vascular aging in children and may thus help counteract CV disease development later in life.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03085498.

Body Adiposity and Apolipoproteins in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND

Excess Weight and Cardiovascular Diseases are health problems with increasing prevalence among children and adolescents, hence the need to investigate the issues related to them to better deal with the problem.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of excess adiposity on the levels of apolipoprotein B and A1 in children and adolescents.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, Web of Science, Ovid and Science direct databases, searching for cohort eligible studies and evaluating their results, methodological quality and risk of bias; combinable studies with good quality and low risk of bias were evaluated by meta-analysis. The summary measure used was the weighted mean difference (WMD) with its respective 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

8 articles attended the eligibility criteria including individuals with age mean varying from 9 to 15.7 years of age. The meta-analysis included 4 articles with a total of 7,974 children and adolescents. It was observed a mean increase of 4,94mg/dL (95%CI: 4,22 to 5,67) in the ApoB levels in individuals with excess of body adiposity. For the ApoA1, we identified a mean reduction of -8,13mg/dL (95%CI: -9,09 to -7,17 mg/dL) in its levels in children and adolescents with higher body adiposity. Beside this, the influence of excess adiposity on the ApoB and ApoA1 levels was higher between adolescents than children.

CONCLUSIONS

The excess of body adiposity influenced both the reduction of ApoA1 values and the increase of ApoB levels, being these changes more relevant among adolescents. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

Impact of sedentary behavior on large artery structure and function in children and adolescents: a systematic review

Sedentary behavior contributes to increased atherosclerotic risk in adults. Whether or not this can be extended to pediatric populations is unclear. This systematic review assessed associations of sedentary behavior with large artery structure and function in pediatric populations. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched from the earliest available date to 31st of December 2018. Analyses of associations of sedentary behavior with large artery structure or function in a pediatric (sub-)population were included, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was published in advance on PROSPERO (CRD42018112996). Study quality and quality of evidence were analyzed using NHLBI Study Quality assessment tools and GRADE. Six observational studies found no association of exposure and outcome variables, and one had contradicting results. One intervention found reduced flow-mediated dilation after 3 h of uninterrupted sitting. Exposure and outcome measures were highly heterogeneous. Study quality was low to moderate. Quality of evidence was very low or low in the observational studies and high in the intervention.Conclusion: In pediatric populations, current evidence is limited and of low quality about how acute effects of sedentary behavior translate into early vascular aging and the long-term development of vascular dysfunction and atherosclerotic risk. Future studies should emphasize a careful choice of the adequate type and measurement site of a biomarker for large artery structure and function as well as conduct a detailed assessment of sedentary behavior patterns.Trial registration: PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42018112996What is known: • An independent association of sedentary behavior and biomarkers of large artery structure and function has been demonstrated in adults. • In children, sedentary behavior is directly associated with classical cardiovascular risk factors like elevated blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, obesity, and elevated blood lipids.What is new: • Currently, only few studies of low quality in children and adolescents provide limited evidence about how acute effects of sedentary behavior translate into early vascular aging and the long-term development of atherosclerosis. • The type and measurement site of vascular biomarker need to be chosen carefully, and a detailed assessment of sedentary behavior patterns is important to minimize the methodological bias.

Prevalence of Hypertension in the Middle Belt of Ghana: A Community-Based Screening Study

OBJECTIVE

Prevalence of hypertension is on the rise and can be attributed to aging populations and changing behavioral or lifestyle risk factors. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, control, and risk factors of hypertension in the middle part of Ghana.

METHODS

A total of 2,555 participants aged ≥18 years (mean age of 43 years; 60.5% female) were enrolled using a two-stage sampling method. The World Health Organization STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor Surveillance-Instrument v2.1 was used for data collection. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were assessed. Blood glucose and lipids were also measured using blood samples collected after an overnight fast.

RESULTS

Prevalence of hypertension was 28.1% (95% CI: 26.3%-29.8%). Less than half, i.e., 45.9% (95% CI: 42.2%-49.6%), of the respondents were aware of their hypertensive status. Of those aware and had sought medical treatment, 41.3% (95% CI: 36.1-46.8) had their hypertension controlled. Risk factors associated with being hypertensive were current (p=0.053) and past tobacco usage (p < 0.001), prediabetes (p=0.042), high body mass index (p < 0.001), hyperglycaemia (p=0.083), and hypercholesterolaemia (p=0.010). Doing vigorous work and being active in sports were less associated with being hypertensive (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that close to one-quarter of adults who were involved in the survey in the middle belt of Ghana were hypertensive with less than half being aware of their hypertensive status; nearly half of those on treatment had controlled hypertension. Healthcare systems need adequate resources that enable them to screen, educate, and refer identified hypertensive patients for appropriate management to prevent or minimize the development of hypertension-related complications.

Associations Between Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness With Cognition: Neuroaggression or Neuroselection?

See Article by Lamballais et al.

Body composition is a strong predictor of local carotid stiffness in Swedish, young adults - the cross sectional Lifestyle, biomarkers, and atherosclerosis study

Background

Obesity has nearly tripled worldwide during the last four decades, especially in young adults, and is of growing concern since it is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We explored how different body composition measurements are associated with intima media thickness (cIMT) and local stiffness in the common carotid artery, in a subsample of healthy, young women and men, from the Swedish Lifestyle, Biomarkers, and Atherosclerosis (LBA) Study.

Methods

From the LBA study, a subsample of 220 randomly selected, self-reported healthy individuals, 18–25 years old, were collected for the automatized local stiffness measurements; arterial distensibility, Young’s elastic modulus, and β stiffness index. Blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured using automatic blood pressure equipment. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, waist circumference was measured, and percentage of body fat assessed using an impedance body composition analyzer. The carotid artery was scanned by ultrasound and analyzed using B-mode edge wall tracking. cIMT was measured and local stiffness measurements were calculated with carotid blood pressure, measured with applanation tonometry.

Results

No association was found between cIMT and body composition. Local carotid stiffness was associated with body composition, and women had less stiff arteries than men (p < 0.001). Of the local stiffness measurements, arterial distensibility had the strongest associations with body composition measurements in both women and men (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that BMI in women and BMI and percentage of body fat in men had the highest impact on arterial distensibility (p < 0.01 in both women and men).

Conclusions

Arterial distensibility was the local stiffness measurement with the strongest associations to different body composition measurements, in both women and men. In this age group, body composition measurements seem to be stronger predictors of common carotid arterial stiffness than MAP, and is a convenient way of detecting young adults who need cardiovascular risk follow-up and lifestyle counseling.

Is atopic sensitization associated with indicators of early vascular ageing in adolescents?

Background

Chronic systemic inflammation accelerates early vascular ageing. Atopic sensitization and allergic diseases may involve increased inflammatory activity. This study aimed to assess whether atopic sensitization and allergic diseases were associated with altered vascular biomarkers in Norwegian adolescents.

Methods

Distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries, carotid intima-media thickness and atopic sensitization (serum total and specific IgEs) were assessed in 95 Norwegian adolescents, who participated in the RHINESSA generation study. Symptoms of allergic disease were assessed by an interviewer-led questionnaire.

Results

Atopic sensitization was found in 33 (34.7%) of the adolescents. Symptomatic allergic disease was found in 11 (33.3%) of those with atopic sensitization. Distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries appeared to be lower in participants with atopic sensitization than in those without (46.99±8.07*10⁻³/kPa versus 51.50±11.46*10⁻³/kPa; p>0.05), while carotid intima-media thickness did not differ between these groups (0.50±0.04mm versus 0.50±0.04mm; p>0.05). Crude, as well as age- and sex-adjusted multiple regression, revealed no significant association, neither of atopic sensitization nor of allergic disease, with distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries and carotid intima-media thickness.

Conclusions

Our results do not support the assumption of an adverse impact of atopic sensitization and/or allergic disease on distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries and carotid intima-media thickness in Norwegian adolescents. Further research is necessary to study whether the clinical severity of allergic diseases might be more important than the status of allergic disease or atopic sensitization.

Body Silhouette Trajectories Across the Lifespan and Vascular Aging

Vascular aging is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and can be quantified by higher carotid stiffness, intima-media thickness and diameter, and hypertension. Weight gain across the lifetime may be an important, modifiable determinant of vascular aging. We therefore aimed to assess lifetime body silhouette trajectories (a marker of weight change across the lifespan) in relation to vascular aging in late adulthood. We used cross-sectional data from a community-based cohort study (n=8243; age, 59.4; 38.7% women). A linear mixed model was used to assess trajectories of recalled body silhouettes from age 8 to 45 years. We assessed carotid artery properties (ultrasonography), resting hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensives), and exaggerated exercise blood pressure, a marker of masked hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥150 mm Hg during submaximal exercise) at study recruitment when the participants were 50 to 75 years of age. We identified 5 distinct body silhouette trajectories: lean stable (32.0%), lean increase (11.1%), moderate stable (32.5%), lean-marked increase (16.3%), and heavy stable (8.1%). Compared with individuals in the lean-stable trajectory, those in the moderate-stable, lean-marked increase, and heavy-stable trajectories had higher carotid stiffness, intima-media thickness and diameter (odds ratios between 1.23 and 2.10 for highest quartile versus lowest quartile of manifestations of vascular aging; P<0.05) and were more likely to have resting hypertension and exaggerated exercise blood pressure, after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratios between 1.31 and 1.60; P<0.05). Vascular aging was most prominent among individuals who were lean in early life but markedly gained weight during young adulthood and among those who were heavy in early life and maintained weight.

A cross-section study of main determinants of arterial stiffness in Hefei area, China

BACKGROUND

Arterial stiffness has emerged as an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular disease events and is the consequence of multiple risk factors. The aim of the present study is to explore the main determinants of arterial stiffness in a Chinese population and to study how the arterial stiffness levels affected by different number of risk factors.

METHODS

This study included 358 subjects in Hefei area of China. Anthropometric indexes, biochemical indexes, cardiovascular function indexes and lifestyle were achieved. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used to assess arterial stiffness. Multivariate linear regression model was performed to identify the main determinants of arterial stiffness levels.

RESULTS

baPWV was correlated with age, sex, hypertension, various blood pressure components (systolic blood pressure [SPB], diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and central arterial pressure), serum lipids, fasting blood-glucose and body mass index, subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) and ejection duration (ED) in bivariate correlation analysis. Moreover, baPWV was only positively correlated with age, hypertension and SBP and inversely correlated with SEVR and ED in multivariable regression model. These five variables explained about 74.8% variances of baPWV and age was the strongest determinant of arterial stiffness. In addition, the levels of arterial stiffness increased with the augmented number of risk factors when the total number of factors was no more than 4.

CONCLUSIONS

The main determinants of arterial stiffness were age, hypertension, SBP, SEVR and ED. Furthermore, the number of risk factors had an independent influence on arterial stiffness, it is of great importance to consider the number of risk factors when it comes to cardiovascular risk assessment.

Association of Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness With Cognition in 2 Population-Based Child and Adult Cohorts

Background High blood pressure levels and higher arterial stiffness have been shown to be associated with lower cognition during adulthood, possibly by accumulative changes over time. However, vascular factors may already affect the brain during early life. Methods and Results We examined the relation between cognition and vascular factors within 5853 children from the Generation R Study (mean age 6.2 years) and 5187 adults from the Rotterdam Study (mean age 61.8 years). Diastolic and systolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness were assessed, the latter by measuring pulse-wave velocity and pulse pressure. For cognition, the Generation R Study relied on nonverbal intelligence, whereas the Rotterdam Study relied on a cognitive test battery to calculate the g-factor, a measure of global cognition. In the Generation R Study, standardized diastolic blood pressure showed a significant association with standardized nonverbal intelligence (β=-0.030, 95% confidence interval=[-0.054; -0.005]) after full adjustment. This association held up after excluding the top diastolic blood pressure decile (β=-0.042 [-0.075; -0.009]), suggesting that the relation holds in normotensives. Within the Rotterdam Study, standardized cognition associated linearly with standardized systolic blood pressure (β=-0.036 [-0.060; -0.012]), standardized pulse-wave velocity (β=-0.064 [-0.095; -0.033]), and standardized pulse pressure (β=-0.044 [-0.069; -0.020], and nonlinearly with standardized diastolic blood pressure (quadratic term β=-0.032 [-0.049; -0.015]) after full adjustment. Conclusions Blood pressure and cognition may already be related in the general population during early childhood, albeit differently than during adulthood.

New insights into arterial stiffening: does sex matter?

This review discusses sexual dimorphism in arterial stiffening, disease pathology interactions, and the influence of sex on mechanisms and pathways. Arterial stiffness predicts cardiovascular mortality independent of blood pressure. Patients with increased arterial stiffness have a 48% higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Like other cardiovascular pathologies, arterial stiffness is sexually dimorphic. Young women have lower stiffness than aged-matched men, but this sex difference reverses during normal aging. Estrogen therapy does not attenuate progressive stiffening in postmenopausal women, indicating that currently prescribed drugs do not confer protection. Although remodeling of large arteries is a protective adaptation to higher wall stress, arterial stiffening increases afterload to the left ventricle and transmits higher pulsatile pressure to smaller arteries and target organs. Moreover, an increase in aortic stiffness may precede or exacerbate hypertension, particularly during aging. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which females are protected from arterial stiffness to provide insight into its mechanisms and, ultimately, therapeutic targets for treating this pathology.

The Childhood Role in Development of Primary Hypertension

Primary hypertension is not just an adult disorder. Current US population data on children and adolescents demonstrate a prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension combined of over 10%. Recent reports from prospective cohort studies describe an association of high BP in childhood with hypertension in young adulthood. Excess adiposity is strongly associated with higher BP in childhood and increases risk for hypertension in adulthood. In addition to overweight/obesity, other exposures that raise the risk for high BP include low birthweight, dietary sodium, and stress. Using intermediate markers of cardiovascular injury, studies on hypertensive children report findings of cardiac hypertrophy, vascular stiffness, and early atherosclerotic changes. Impaired cognitive function has also been demonstrated in hypertensive children. Recent advances in clinical and translational research support the concept that the evolution of primary hypertension begins in childhood.

Cardiac and Vascular Target Organ Damage in Pediatric Hypertension

Atherosclerosis begins in youth and is associated with the presence of numerous modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, including hypertension. Pediatric hypertension has increased in prevalence since the 1980s but has plateaued in recent years. Elevated blood pressure levels are associated with impairments to cardiac and vascular structure and both systolic and diastolic function. Blood pressure-related increases in left ventricular mass (LVM) and abnormalities in cardiac function are associated with hard CV events in adulthood. In addition to cardiac changes, key vascular changes occur in hypertensive youth and adults. These include thickening of the arteries, increased arterial stiffness, and decreased endothelial function. This review summarizes the epidemiologic burden of pediatric hypertension, its associations with target organ damage (TOD) of the cardiac and vascular systems, and the impact of these adverse CV changes on morbidity and mortality in adulthood.

Evaluation of lipid profiles and hematological parameters in hypertensive patients: Laboratory-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension and dyslipidemia are the two coexisting and synergizing major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The cellular constituents of blood affect the volume and viscosity of blood, thus playing a key role in regulating blood pressure. Overweight and obesity are key determinants of adverse metabolic changes including an increase in blood pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid profiles and hematological parameters in hypertensive patients at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

METHODS

Laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 100 eligible hypertensive patients at the hospital. The required amount of blood was withdrawn from the patients by healthcare professionals for immediate automated laboratory analyses. Data were collected on socio-demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and hematological parameters.

RESULT

The mean serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein were significantly higher than their respective cut-off values in the hypertensive patients. Besides, 54%, 52%, 35%, and 11% of the hypertensive patients had abnormal low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein levels, respectively. Higher levels of low-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin, and red blood cell count were observed in the hypertensive patients whose blood pressure had been poorly controlled than the controlled ones (p < 0.05). Waist circumference had a significant positive association with the serum levels of total cholesterol and white blood cell count (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Hypertensive patients had a high prevalence of lipid profile abnormalities and poorly controlled blood pressure which synergize in accelerating other cardiovascular diseases. Some hematological parameters such as red blood cell count are also increased as do the severity of hypertension.

2016 European Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents

Increasing prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in children and adolescents has become a significant public health issue driving a considerable amount of research. Aspects discussed in this document include advances in the definition of HTN in 16 year or older, clinical significance of isolated systolic HTN in youth, the importance of out of office and central blood pressure measurement, new risk factors for HTN, methods to assess vascular phenotypes, clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and treatment strategies among others. The recommendations of the present document synthesize a considerable amount of scientific data and clinical experience and represent the best clinical wisdom upon which physicians, nurses and families should base their decisions. In addition, as they call attention to the burden of HTN in children and adolescents, and its contribution to the current epidemic of cardiovascular disease, these guidelines should encourage public policy makers to develop a global effort to improve identification and treatment of high blood pressure among children and adolescents.

Vascular aging: Molecular mechanisms and potential treatments for vascular rejuvenation

Aging is the main risk factor contributing to vascular dysfunction and the progression of vascular diseases. In this review, we discuss the causes and mechanisms of vascular aging at the tissue and cellular level. We focus on Endothelial Cell (EC) and Smooth Muscle Cell (SMC) aging due to their critical role in mediating the defective vascular phenotype. We elaborate on two categories that contribute to cellular dysfunction: cell extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors reflect systemic or environmental changes which alter EC and SMC homeostasis compromising vascular function. Intrinsic factors induce EC and SMC transformation resulting in cellular senescence. Replenishing or rejuvenating the aged/dysfunctional vascular cells is critical to the effective repair of the vasculature. As such, this review also elaborates on recent findings which indicate that stem cell and gene therapies may restore the impaired vascular cell function, reverse vascular aging, and prolong lifespan.

Pulse pressure tracking from adolescence to young adulthood: contributions to vascular health

PURPOSE

We examined whether exposure to high PP in adolescence predicts carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and stiffness indices at young adulthood.

METHODS

Seventy-nine participants had their brachial systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood (DBP) pressures taken at the age of 15-16 years and later at young adulthood (29-31 years). Carotid IMT, distensibility and stiffness index β were measured at young adulthood. Linear and logistical regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

PP at adolescence and at young adulthood predicted vascular health independently of sex, body mass index, and mean arterial pressure, explaining up to 37% of the variance. When analyzing its single constituents, at adolescence DBP was more predictive of vascular health, whereas DBP and SBP were equally important at young adulthood. Adolescents with high PP were at risk for increased carotid IMT (OR: 4.04-4.09), even if PP decreased at young adulthood. Young adults with high PP were at risk for increased stiffness regardless of adolescence PP (OR: 4.64-7.35).

CONCLUSION

PP at adolescence and young adulthood may be a better predictor of early pathological changes in carotid artery structure and stiffness. Whereas carotid IMT in young adults appears to be influenced by PP at adolescence, carotid stiffness depends primarily on current PP.

Cardiometabolic Determinants of Carotid and Aortic Distensibility From Childhood to Early Adulthood

Children who are obese or have familial hypercholesterolemia have stiffer arteries compared with lean, healthy peers. Limited data are, however, available on the association of cardiometabolic risk markers and arterial distensibility in healthy children, particularly in a longitudinal setting. Therefore, we studied in the prospective STRIP (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project) comprising healthy, predominantly normal weight participants the association of several cardiometabolic and dietary risk markers with arterial distensibility from childhood to early adulthood. Carotid and aortic distensibility (cdist, adist) was assessed repeatedly with ultrasonography at the age of 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 years in the longitudinal atherosclerosis prevention study (n_cdist=420-503, n_adist=407-476). Data on cardiometabolic risk markers and diet were available since early childhood. In multivariable analyses, body mass index (β=-0.0019 [SE 0.0085]; P=0.037), systolic blood pressure (β=-0.0025 [SE 0.00065]; P=0.0001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=-0.026 [SE 0.012]; P=0.034), and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (β=-0.048 [SE 0.018]; P=0.0071) were independently associated with carotid distensibility. Systolic blood pressure (β=-0.0069 [SE 0.00097]; P<0.0001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=-0.039 [SE 0.018]; P=0.031) associated independently with aortic distensibility. Dietary variables were not independently associated with arterial distensibility. Participants with low arterial distensibility had higher body mass index (P_cdist=0.0090, P_adist=0.098) and higher systolic (P_cdist<0.0001, P_adist<0.0001) and diastolic blood pressures (P_cdist<0.0001, P_adist=0.0002) already from early childhood. Body mass index, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and homeostasis model of insulin resistance identified since childhood associate with arterial distensibility in healthy children and adolescents. These data support the relevance of these factors as part of primordial prevention.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00223600.

Controversies in the association of cardiorespiratory fitness and arterial stiffness in children and adolescents

The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and arterial compliance in children and adolescents remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess this association with a quantitative approach. A total of 646 healthy children and adolescents (316 females, age 13.9±2.1 years) were cross-sectionally investigated in seven school settings in and around Munich for their cardiorespiratory fitness and demographic, anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters. Surrogates of arterial stiffness, such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), Augmentation Index normalized to a heart rate of 75 (AI@75), and peripheral and central systolic blood pressures were measured in a supine position using the oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph. Cardiopulmonary fitness was measured by 6-min indoor run tests. After correction for age, sex, body weight, body height, heart rate and mean arterial pressure, controversial findings were produced. PWV increased with higher cardiorespiratory fitness (Beta=0.173; P<0.001), which represented an unfavorable relationship, whereas AI@75 declined with higher cardiorespiratory fitness (Beta=-0.106; P=0.025). Therefore, in contrast to PWV, higher cardiorespiratory fitness seems beneficial for AI@75. The third surrogate of arterial stiffness, central systolic blood pressure, showed no association with cardiorespiratory fitness (Beta=0.066; P=0.052). These controversial outcomes remain almost unchanged when the boys and girls were analyzed separately. Different surrogates of arterial stiffness have different relationships with cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents after correcting for multiple confounders. More research is needed in this field to understand the functioning of the juvenile vessels, and measurements and methodological approaches should be reconsidered.

Reduced arterial stiffness in very fit boys and girls

Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, whereas high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protect the cardiovascular system. Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility are well-established parameters to identify subclinical cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength on carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility in 697 children and adolescents (376 girls), aged 7-17 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness and strength were measured with the test battery FITNESSGRAM; carotid intima-media thickness, arterial compliance, elastic modulus, stiffness index β, and pulse wave velocity β were assessed by B- and M-mode ultrasound at the common carotid artery. In bivariate correlation, cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with all cardiovascular parameters and was an independent predictor in multivariate regression analysis. No significant associations were obtained for muscular strength. In a one-way variance analysis, very fit boys and girls (58 boys and 74 girls>80th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness) had significantly decreased stiffness parameters (expressed in standard deviation scores) compared with low fit subjects (71 boys and 77 girls<20th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness): elastic modulus -0.16±1.02 versus 0.19±1.17, p=0.009; stiffness index β -0.15±1.08 versus 0.16±1.1, p=0.03; and pulse wave velocity β -0.19±1.02 versus 0.19±1.14, p=0.005. Cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with healthier arteries in children and adolescents. Comparison of very fit with unfit subjects revealed better distensibility parameters in very fit boys and girls.

Arterial stiffness in children with and without probable developmental coordination disorder

BACKGROUND

Children with cardiovascular disease risk factors demonstrate adverse arterial alterations that are predictive of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults. Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are at cardiovascular risk as they are more likely to be obese and inactive.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to assess arterial structure and function in children with and without probable DCD (p-DCD).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 33 children with p-DCD (22 male) and 53 without (30 male). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children was used to classify those with p-DCD. Adiposity was assessed using the BOD POD. Compliance, distensibility, and intima-media thickness were measured at the common carotid artery (CCA). ECG R-wave-to-toe pulse wave velocity (PWV) was also measured.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, males with p-DCD had lower CCA distensibility (p=0.034) and higher PWV (p=0.001). No differences were evident in females. Body fat percent was a significant predictor of CCA distensibility and removed the effect of p-DCD on PWV in males.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates augmented arterial stiffness in males with p-DCD, likely attributed to body fat. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions in children with p-DCD, specifically males, in order to prevent future cardiovascular risk.

The effects of school-based lifestyle interventions on body mass index and blood pressure: a multivariate multilevel meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Primary prevention of childhood obesity and related hypertension is warrant given that both risk factors are intertwined and track into adulthood. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess the impact of school-based lifestyle interventions on children's body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. We searched databases and prior reviews. Eligibility criteria were the following: randomized controlled trial design, evaluation of a school-based intervention, targeting children aged 4-12 years, reporting on BMI and/or related cardiovascular risk factors, reporting data on at least one follow-up moment. The effects on BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were evaluated by means of univariate and multivariate three-level random effects models. A total of 85 RCTs (91 papers) were included in the meta-analyses. In univariate models, the pooled effects were -0.072 (95%CI: -0.106; -0.038) for BMI, -0.183 (95%CI: -0.288; -0.078) for SBP and -0.071 (95%CI: -0.185; 0.044) for DBP. In multivariate analyses, the pooled effects of interventions were -0.054 (95%CI: -0.131; 0.022) for BMI, -0.182 (95%CI: -0.266; -0.098) for SBP and -0.144 (95%CI: -0.230; -0.057) for DBP. Parental involvement accentuated the beneficial effects of interventions. School-based lifestyle prevention interventions result in beneficial changes in children's BMI and blood pressure, and the effects on the latter may be stronger than and accrue independently from those in the former.

Evaluation of Lipid Profile and Apolipoproteins in Essential Hypertensive Patients

INTRODUCTION

Essential hypertension is one of the most common diseases of the Indian population contributing greatly to the morbidity, mortality and economic burden. It has a strong association with cardiovascular disease and abnormal lipid metabolism. Not only the traditional lipid parameters, but also the novel lipid components like Apo A1 and Apo B100 also have been identified to play a role.

AIM

The present study was done to evaluate serum lipid profile and Apo A1, Apo B 100 in essential hypertensive patients and correlate their values with the degree of hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fasting samples from 55 age and sex matched controls and 55 essential hypertensives were tested for plasma glucose, serum urea, creatinine, lipid profile, apo A1 and apo B100. The cases were subclassified based on the severity of hypertension according to JNC criteria.

RESULTS

The study showed a significantly raised value for serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) in the hypertensive patients than the control group whereas serum High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) registered a fall in the cases. Apo A1 revealed a non-significant fall in the hypertensive patients. In contrast, there was a rise in the serum apo B100 in the cases. Apo B100/apo A1 ratio was significantly raised in both stage I and stage II hypertensive patients in comparision to the controls. When correlated, serum apo A1 revealed a negative association where as serum apo B 100 showed a positive association with systolic and diastolic bloood pressure. Both LDL/HDL and apoB100/apo A1 and apo B100 revealed a significant positive association with both SBP and DBP. However, apoB100/apo A1 revealed a more positive association in comparision to LDL/HDL ratio (r=0.749, p<0.001, r=0.756, p<0.001 vs r=0.336, p<0.000, r=0.312, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Apo B100/apoA1 has emerged as an important complementary parameter in addition to traditional lipid ratio for evaluation of risk for future cardiovascular disease.