New study pinpoints pivotal period for improving cardiovascular health in children

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A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute sheds light on the trajectory of cardiovascular health (CVH) early in life, which may contribute to CVH disparities in adulthood. Across demographic subgroups, CVH scores begin to decline at approximately 10 years of age and appear driven by health behaviors rather than health factors. Key health behaviors to target for improving early-life CVH include better sleep, healthier diet, and reducing smoking. Boston, MA — Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a critical public health concern, with risk factors such as high blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar levels, elevated cholesterol, and obesity beginning in childhood. A new study pinpoints the age when cardiovascular health (CVH) trajectories begin to decline, revealing a crucial window for targeted interventions to improve CVH into adolescence and adulthood.

The findings are published December 17 in JAMA Cardiology.

The American Heart Association’s recently introduced Life’s Essential 8 guidelines assess cardiovascular health based on four behavioral (diet, smoking, physical activity, sleep duration) and four health factors (body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels). While the guidelines hold promise to enhance CVH assessment across the lifecourse, U.S. children’s cardiovascular health remains suboptimal: only 2% of children aged 2–19 have optimal CVH scores and fewer than one-third have high scores (80-100 points).

“Though we know that better heart health in childhood is linked to lower risks of coronary issues later in life, the current state of cardiovascular health in US children is less than ideal,” said lead author Izzuddin Aris, Harvard Medical School assistant professor of population medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. “Our study provides insight into the trajectory of cardiovascular health in early life, establishing a clear window of opportunity to improve the health of the nation’s children now and into the future.”

Using the Life’s Essential 8 construct, the research team studied data from over 1,500 children from the Project Viva pre-birth cohort in eastern Massachusetts. Participant inclusion required information on at least 3 CVH metrics in early childhood or at least 4 metrics in mid-childhood, early adolescence, or late adolescence. The team assessed 6 CVH metrics in early childhood (diet, smoking, physical activity, sleep duration, BMI, and BP), and up to 8 from mid-childhood to late adolescence.

The authors found that CVH scores start to decline around age 10 across all demographic groups, driven by health behaviors rather than health factors. This decline may reflect social and/or developmental changes that typically occur at this age—such as changes in school schedules that may interfere with meeting guidelines for healthy sleep duration and/or diet—and may affect health behaviors. Improving these health behaviors, especially between mid-childhood and early adolescence, could help optimize CVH.

They also noted small but significant differences in CVH trajectories based on maternal socioeconomic status and child race and ethnicity.

“Our study highlights the potential early influence of structural factors linked to socioeconomic status and race and ethnicity—such as residence in favorable neighborhood environments, the ability to access healthy foods, and proximity to safe community spaces that encourage physical activity—that might contribute to future cardiovascular health disparities,” adds Dr. Aris. “This, in addition to isolating the most vulnerable age for CVH loss, can help improve targeting of preventive efforts to high-risk children, as well as improve our understanding of the early life drivers of CVH loss.”

About the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute’s Department of Population Medicine
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute's Department of Population Medicine is a unique collaboration between Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School. Created in 1992, it is the first appointing medical school department in the United States based in a health plan. The Institute focuses on improving health care delivery and population health through innovative research and education, in partnership with health plans, delivery systems, and public health agencies. Follow us on X and LinkedIn.

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