CINCINNATI, PRN-USN - GHN-- Intervention for heart disease should take
place in childhood, given new research about risk factors
identified in young children.
place in childhood, given new research about risk factors
identified in young children.
Physicians
have identified a risk factor for heart disease in adulthood that can
be present in children as young as 10. They're also calling for
screening for this risk factor to help motivate children to exercise and
lose weight.
have identified a risk factor for heart disease in adulthood that can
be present in children as young as 10. They're also calling for
screening for this risk factor to help motivate children to exercise and
lose weight.
This
wake-up call from the nation's physicians comes from researchers at
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Researchers found an
association between stiffness of arteries and function of the heart's
left ventricle later in life. The study, conducted in more than 600
preteens and young adults, will be presented Oct. 1 at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting in San Francisco.
wake-up call from the nation's physicians comes from researchers at
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Researchers found an
association between stiffness of arteries and function of the heart's
left ventricle later in life. The study, conducted in more than 600
preteens and young adults, will be presented Oct. 1 at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting in San Francisco.
"Screening
for arterial stiffness and diastolic function – the ability of the left
ventricle to relax and fill with blood before contracting and pumping
it to the body – may be called for in obese teens or those with type II
diabetes if we want to identify young people at increased risk for
developing early cardiac disease," says Tom Kimball, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at Cincinnati Children's and senior author of the study.
for arterial stiffness and diastolic function – the ability of the left
ventricle to relax and fill with blood before contracting and pumping
it to the body – may be called for in obese teens or those with type II
diabetes if we want to identify young people at increased risk for
developing early cardiac disease," says Tom Kimball, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at Cincinnati Children's and senior author of the study.
Dr.
Kimball and his colleagues in the Heart Institute at Cincinnati
Children's obtained echocardiograms, arterial stiffness measurements and
other data on 612 individuals 10 to 24 years old. Those with arterial
stiffness who were older, heavier, had a poorer lipid profile and higher
blood sugar also had poorer left ventricular diastolic function, a
known risk factor for heart disease.
Kimball and his colleagues in the Heart Institute at Cincinnati
Children's obtained echocardiograms, arterial stiffness measurements and
other data on 612 individuals 10 to 24 years old. Those with arterial
stiffness who were older, heavier, had a poorer lipid profile and higher
blood sugar also had poorer left ventricular diastolic function, a
known risk factor for heart disease.
The
researchers suggest arterial stiffness raises blood pressure, which
causes thicker hearts, which leads to diastolic dysfunction. Those in
this study with arterial stiffness had higher blood pressure. Previous
studies have linked hypertension to thicker hearts and diastolic
dysfunction.
researchers suggest arterial stiffness raises blood pressure, which
causes thicker hearts, which leads to diastolic dysfunction. Those in
this study with arterial stiffness had higher blood pressure. Previous
studies have linked hypertension to thicker hearts and diastolic
dysfunction.
The
study is the latest in a series of studies conducted by Dr. Kimball and
colleagues at Cincinnati Children's that have been presented or
published in recent years, all leading to the conclusion that there are
risk factors in childhood that predict heart disease in adults.
study is the latest in a series of studies conducted by Dr. Kimball and
colleagues at Cincinnati Children's that have been presented or
published in recent years, all leading to the conclusion that there are
risk factors in childhood that predict heart disease in adults.
Two
studies took place in 2001, showing how obesity in children impacts the
structure and function of the heart. In 2003 another study suggested
that certain abnormalities of the heart are more common in obese
children than in those with normal weight.
studies took place in 2001, showing how obesity in children impacts the
structure and function of the heart. In 2003 another study suggested
that certain abnormalities of the heart are more common in obese
children than in those with normal weight.
Furthermore
Dr. Kimball has also found that body mass index plays a part in risk
for heart disease development in children. The earlier in young
childhood kids reach their lowest BMI and then begin to gain body mass,
the greater the chance of having adverse changes in known cardiovascular
risk factors, which can show up as early as age 7.
Dr. Kimball has also found that body mass index plays a part in risk
for heart disease development in children. The earlier in young
childhood kids reach their lowest BMI and then begin to gain body mass,
the greater the chance of having adverse changes in known cardiovascular
risk factors, which can show up as early as age 7.
"Health
care professionals shouldn't accept current trends in childhood BMI and
left ventricular mass when determining if children are healthy and have
normal hearts," says Dr. Kimball. "Pediatricians and family physicians
must start measuring children's BMI as early as age 3 and help families reverse it if required."
care professionals shouldn't accept current trends in childhood BMI and
left ventricular mass when determining if children are healthy and have
normal hearts," says Dr. Kimball. "Pediatricians and family physicians
must start measuring children's BMI as early as age 3 and help families reverse it if required."
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