title: Effect of physical activity on vascular characteristics in young children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity has long been proposed as an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor in adults. We assessed whether physical activity already has an effect on childhood vasculature.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the Wheezing-Illnesses-Study-in-Leidsche-Rijn birth cohort, we performed vascular ultrasound to measure carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and functional properties (distensibility, elastic modulus) at 5 and 8 years of age. Child typical physical activities were inquired using a questionnaire completed by parents. Linear regression was used with physical activity level, expressed as a standardized value of time-weighted metabolic equivalent (MET) as the independent variable and vascular properties as dependent variables with further confounder adjustment and evaluation for possible body mass index and sex effect modifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 595 5-year-old children and in 237 of those who had reached the age of 8 years, we did not find statistically significant associations between total time-weighted MET and each vascular parameter, neither in pooled nor stratified analysis. However, sport activities were associated with thinner cIMT (-3.20 µm/SD, 95% CI -6.34, -0.22, p = 0.04) at 5 years of age; a similar pattern was seen for organized sport. This effect was strongest in children in the highest body mass index tertile (-5.38 µm/SD, 95% CI -10.54, -0.19, p = 0.04). At the age of 8 years, higher sport level tended to be associated with higher vascular distensibility (2.64 × 10(3) kPa/SD, 95% CI -0.18, 5.45, p = 0.07) although this was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sport activity may have beneficial effects on arteries of young children, particularly those with higher relative body weight.
authors: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia nikmah@ikafkui.org.
authors: Nikmah S
authors: NS
authors: Idris
authors: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Annemieke M V
authors: AM
authors: Evelein
authors: VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Caroline C
authors: CC
authors: Geerts
authors: University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors: Sudigdo
authors: S
authors: Sastroasmoro
authors: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Diederick E
authors: DE
authors: Grobbee
authors: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Cuno S P M
authors: CS
authors: Uiterwaal
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Carotid intima–media thickness; child; physical activity; vascular stiffness