Influence of early-life body mass index and systolic blood pressure on left ventricle in adulthood - the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Abstract

<p>Background<br></p><p>Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) predicts cardiovascular events and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine whether early-life exposures to body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SPB) affects the left ventricular structure in adulthood.<br></p><p>Methods<br></p><p>We used longitudinal data from a 31-year follow-up to examine the associations between early-life (between ages 6-18) BMI and SPB on LVM in an adult population (<em>N</em> = 1864, aged 34-49). The burden of early-life BMI and SBP was defined as area under the curve.<br></p><p>Results<br></p><p>After accounting for contemporary adult determinants of LVM, early-life BMI burden associated significantly with LVM (3.61 g/SD increase in early-life BMI; [1.94 - 5.28], <em>p</em> < 0.001). Overweight in early-life (age- and sex-specific BMI values corresponding to adult BMI > 25 kg/m²) associated with 4.7% (2.5-6.9%, <em>p</em> < 0.0001) higher LVM regardless of BMI status in adulthood. Overweight in early-life combined with obesity in adulthood (BMI > 30kg/m²) resulted in a 21% (17.3-32.9%, <em>p</em> < 0.0001) increase in LVM. Higher early-life BMI was associated with a risk of developing eccentric hypertrophy. The burden of early-life SPB was not associated with adult LVM or left ventricular remodeling.<br></p><p>Conclusions<br></p><p>High BMI in early-life confers a sustained effect on LVM and the risk for eccentric hypertrophy independently of adulthood risk factors.</p>