Early Life BP Linked to Adult Arterial Thickening

A Finnish randomized, infancy-onset cohort study indicated that accumulation of risk exposure to BP levels at all life stages contributed to adulthood carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). The study included 534 participants from July 1989 through January 2018 with annual BP (from age 7 months to 20 years), biennial IMT measurements (from ages 13 to 19 years), who were followed up with again at age 26 years. Systolic BP at each life stage contributed to the association with young adulthood carotid IMT (relative weight, 25.3%, 27.0%, 18.0%, 13.5%, and 16.2%, respectively for infancy, preschool, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood). A 1-SD (at single life-stage) higher systolic BP accumulated across the life course was associated with a higher carotid IMT (0.02 mm). The findings for carotid IMT were replicated in another Finns study that assessed systolic BP from childhood and carotid IMT in adulthood (33 to 45 years). Carotid IMT indicates early vascular remodeling and can predict future cardiovascular disease. The study is consistent with and extends previous studies and suggests the potential benefits of a life-course approach to BP management to very early life. Lifestyle interventions in childhood have demonstrated potential to prevent or delay high BP. Sourece: https://jamanetwork.com/