Maternal and child predictors of vascular health in infancy and early childhood

Excessive weight gain (EWG) in childhood is associated with increased risk for later-life cardiovascular disease. Understanding these associations is complicated by confounding from maternal and perinatal factors and the long interval between exposure and disease outcomes. In this pilot study, we longitudinally measured aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) in children, an age-appropriate marker of vascular health, and examined associations with early growth, maternal, and perinatal factors. EWG was not associated with aIMT during early childhood. Early childhood is important for long-term health promotion; however, more research is needed to clarify how exposures during this period affect later cardiovascular health.