Key result
Early-life socioeconomic disadvantage linked to higher pulse-wave velocity by age 12, adding ~0.1 m/s.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular disease is socioeconomically patterned with risk accruing from early life, but evidence linking early life socioeconomic position to cardiovascular health in younger populations is scarce.
Does lower early life socioeconomic position worsen cardiovascular health measures in children and adolescents?
Population
Children and adolescents across 5 longitudinal birth cohorts in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Finland
Comparison
Neighborhood disadvantage, household socioeconomic position, and maternal education in early life
Design
International cross-cohort study of 5 longitudinal birth cohorts
Authors
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Early socioeconomic disadvantage links to worse vascular health by age 12; extends observational data on disparities but leaves causal mechanisms and interventions open.
Cohort (n=21,500)
Yes
Does lower early life socioeconomic position worsen cardiovascular health measures in children and adolescents?
Mean Difference: 0.1 (95% CI 0.03–0.2)
p-value: p=0.003
Lower socioeconomic position in early life is associated with worse cardiovascular health measures from mid-childhood, with differences partially mediated by body mass index.
Gamage et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular health (n=21,500). Lower socioeconomic position in early life vs. Higher socioeconomic position was evaluated on Pulse-wave velocity in 12-year-olds (LSAC-CP cohort) (β=0.1 m/s, 95% CI 0.03-0.2, p=0.003). Lower early-life socioeconomic position was associated with worse cardiovascular health from age 12, including higher pulse-wave velocity (β=0.1 m/s) in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
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