Early and late childhood telomere length predict subclinical atherosclerosis at age 14 yrs. The CardioCAPS study

Jennifer Y. Barraclough*, Michael R. Skilton, Frances L. Garden, Brett G. Toelle, Guy B. Marks, David S. Celermajer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, associated with cardiovascular risk in adults. Telomere length (TL) is a marker of cellular ageing. We sought to determine whether telomere length in early childhood and/or at 14-years is associated with CIMT in adolescence, in a community-based cohort study. Methods: 118 children had TL measured at mean age 3.6-years and 165 children had TL and CIMT, measured at 14-years, from the community-based Childhood Asthma Prevention Study. Results: TL in early childhood was significantly inversely associated with CIMT at 14 years, p = 0.04. TL in teenage life was also significantly inversely associated with CIMT at 14 years, p = 0.03. This latter association was no longer significant, however, after adjusting for early life TL. Conclusion: TL measured in early childhood and adolescence is significantly associated with CIMT at 14-years, suggesting that telomere length is a biological marker or even early determinant of late cardiovascular risk.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)250-253
Number of pages4
JournalInternational Journal of Cardiology
Volume278
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carotid intima-media thickness
  • Adolescence
  • Ageing
  • Telomeres

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