Childhood risk factors for adult cardiovascular disease and primary prevention in childhood
D S Celermajer and Julian G J Ayer
Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, and Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Keywords: atherosclerosis; endothelium; obesity; smoking; hyperlipidaemia
Atherosclerosis has been demonstrated in autopsy studies to have its origins in childhood. In the young, there is a correlation between the intensity of exposure to risk factors such as cigarette smoking, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus and the extent and severity of arterial fatty streaks or raised plaques.
An important current trend that may increase the future burden of coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity. In obesity, many of the risk factors for CHD are clustered together. Moreover, these risk factors usually persist or track into adulthood, so that their effect on the cardiovascular system may be present and influential for several decades. [Full text of this article]
Heart 2006;92:1701-1706
© 2006 by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Cardiovascular Society
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