New publication: Impact of lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors on early atherosclerosis

A study of researchers at VASCage and at the Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI) on a large cohort of Tyrolean students and apprentices suggests adolescence as a prime age range for early vascular prevention. It was published in the journal Atherosclerosis.

The Early Vascular Ageing (EVA)-Tyrol cohort study enrolled over 2000 adolescents. Cardiovascular risk and lifestyle factors were evaluated and intima-media thickness of the aorta and the carotid artery was measured to assess subclinical atherosclerosis. The study found a high prevalence of unfavourable lifestyle factors, especially unhealthy diet and smoking, and vascular risk factors (high blood pressure and overweight) in adolescents. Several of these factors were already associated with vessel wall thickness, a surrogate marker for early vascular ageing, at this young age.

The Early Vascular Ageing (EVA)-Tyrol study was conducted by Prof. Ursula Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, Head of Department of Paediatrics II (MUI), Prof. Michael Knoflach, Department of Neurology (MUI), and others in the VASCage precursor project. The research on risk factors for early vascular ageing is continued and expanded in VASCage – Research Centre on Vascular Ageing and Stroke.

Source:  Atherosclerosis. 2020 Jul;305:26-33. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.05.011

https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(20)30279-3/fulltext