Life-period associations of body mass index with adult carotid intima-media thickness: The Bogalusa heart study and the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
Jack T Evans; Marie-Jeanne Buscot; Brooklyn J Fraser; Markus Juonala; Yajun Guo; Camilo Fernandez; Mika Kähönen; Matthew A Sabin; Matthew K Armstrong; Jorma S A Viikari; Lydia A Bazzano; Olli T Raitakari; Costan G Magnussen
Abstract
Child and adult body mass index (BMI) associates with adult carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT). However, the relative contribution of BMI at different life-periods on adult cIMT has not been quantified. This study aimed to determine the life-course model that best explains the relative contribution of BMI at different life-periods (childhood, adolescence, and young-adulthood) on cIMT in adulthood. BMI was calculated from direct measurements of height and weight at up to seven time-points from childhood to adulthood (1973-2007) among 2485 participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) and 1271 participants in the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS). BMI measures at three ages representative of childhood (9-years), adolescence (18 years) and young-adulthood (30 years) life-periods were used. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure common cIMT in adulthood (>30 years). Associations were evaluated using the Bayesian relative life-course exposure model. In both cohorts, cumulative exposure to higher levels of BMI across the life-course was associated with greater cIMT. Of the examined life-periods, BMI in young-adulthood provided the greatest relative contribution towards the development of adult cIMT for YFS (49.9 %, 95 % CrI = 34-68 %) and white BHS participants (48.6 %, 95 % CrI = 9-86 %), whereas BMI in childhood had the greatest relative contribution for black BHS participants (54.0 %, 95 % CrI = 8-89 %). Although our data suggest sensitive periods in the life-course where prevention and intervention aimed at reducing BMI might provide most benefit in limiting the effects of BMI on cIMT, maintaining lower BMI across the life-course appears to be optimal.
Journal | PREVENTIVE MEDICINE |
ISSN | 1096-0260 |
Published | 05 Sep 2024 |
Volume | |
Issue | |
Pages | 108128 |
DOI | 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.108128 |
Type | Journal Article |
Sponsorship |