November 30, 2025European Journal of Preventive Cardiology0 citationsOpen Access

The Contribution of Adolescent CVD Risk Factors to Vascular Stiffness and Cardiac Remodeling in Young Adults

ABAnne E Barden LBLawrence J. Beilin NLNick S R Lan

Key Points

Increased vascular stiffness correlated with high CVD risk exposure in young adults, indicating a clear link between adolescent risk factors and structural changes.
Analysis of 716 individuals showed significant differences in outcomes like pulse wave velocity and left ventricular mass index, especially among high-risk classifications.
Using cluster analysis on longitudinal data, this study highlights the impact of adolescent cardiovascular risk factors on cardiac structure and function at 27-years.
These findings underscore the need for early public health measures to address cardiovascular and lifestyle disorders starting in adolescence.

Abstract

Abstract Aims Early identification of abnormalities in vascular and cardiac structure offers an opportunity for intervention to reduce future cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined factors contributing to increased CVD risk from adolescence to young adulthood. Methods and Results Raine Study participants (n=716) classified as low- or high-CVD risk using cluster analysis at 17-years were re-studied at 27-years. Outcomes at 27-years were vascular stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV) and left atrial (LA) myocardial strain and respective ejection fractions (EF) assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Outcomes were compared according to low- or high-risk classification at 17-years adjusting for sex and significant covariates at 27-years. At 27-years, individuals classified as high-risk at 17-years had significantly increased PWV (males: 6.6±0.12 vs 6.2±0.04 m/sec; females: 6.2±0.10 vs 5.6±0.04 m/sec) and LVMI (males: 75.2±2.1 vs 69.7±0.5 g/m2; females: 55.4±1.0 vs 52.1±0.4 g/m2) compared with low-risk individuals. Compared with low-risk individuals, LV global longitudinal strain in high-risk females (-16.7±0.4 vs -17.6±0.17 %, p=0.041) and LV global circumferential strain in males (-19.1±0.5 vs -20.5±0.2 %, p=0.013) and females (-21.3±0.4 vs -22.4±0.2 %, p=0.022) were attenuated. These differences were significant in regression analysis after adjusting for sex and contemporary risk factors. Conclusion An unhealthy CVD risk profile in adolescence leads to structural vascular and cardiac changes in young adults predisposing them to future CVD. The results emphasize the importance of early public health measures to reduce the burden of cardiovascular and related lifestyle disorders.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper