title: Pediatric Blood Pressure and Adult Preclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease.
abstract: A high blood pressure level in adults is considered the single most important modifiable risk factor for global disease burden, especially those of cardiovascular (CV) origin such as stroke and ischemic heart disease. Because blood pressure levels have been shown to persist from childhood to adulthood, elevations in pediatric levels have been hypothesized to lead to increased CV burden in adulthood and, as such, might provide a window in the life course where primordial and primary prevention could be focused. In the absence of substantive data directly linking childhood blood pressure levels to overt adult CV disease, this review outlines the available literature that examines the association between pediatric blood pressure and adult preclinical markers of CV disease.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.; Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Costan G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Magnussen
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Smith
keywords: arterial stiffness; blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; carotid intima-media thickness; endothelial function; flow-mediated dilatation; hypertension; pediatric; prehypertension; review