Association of famine exposure in early childhood with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood

SHEN Lijuan; MA Sheng; WANG Huan; ZOU Zhiyong

doi:10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.06.030

Volume 44 Issue 6

Jun. 2023

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SHEN Lijuan, MA Sheng, WANG Huan, ZOU Zhiyong. Association of famine exposure in early childhood with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2023, 44(6): 930-934. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.06.030

Citation:

SHEN Lijuan, MA Sheng, WANG Huan, ZOU Zhiyong. Association of famine exposure in early childhood with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2023, 44(6): 930-934. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.06.030

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Association of famine exposure in early childhood with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood

doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.06.030

School of Public Health/Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, Peking University, Beijing(100191), China

Received Date: 2023-02-09
Rev Recd Date: 2023-03-18

Available Online: 2023-06-28

Publish Date: 2023-06-25

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To explore the association between exposure to famine in early childhood and cardiovascular diseases in later life, and to provide empirical evidence for studying the influencing factors of early life health. Methods From July to October 2022, 1 294 college students were recruited from several universities in Beijing and Shaanxi provinces to investigate the famine-exposed experience before the age of 10 and the current health status of their 2 169 paternal grandparents and complete the online questionnaire. Multiple Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between famine exposure and adult cardiovascular diseases. Results A total of 981(45.2%) paternal grandparents reporting cardiovascular diseases diagnosed by a doctor. After adjusting for potential confounding variables including age, income, smoking, drinking, body mass index, physical activity, diet quality score, and famine severity, the associations between exposure to famine during fetal, infancy, preschool and school age group and cardiovascular diseases were statistically significant, compared to non-exposed group[OR(95%CI)=1.89(1.10-3.26), 1.63(1.01-2.64), 1.71(1.06-2.77), 1.69(1.04-2.72), P < 0.05]. After adjusting for age-balanced control group, famine exposure during infancy and preschool age were statistically significantly associated with coronary heart disease [OR(95%CI)=1.99(1.25-3.17), 1.49(1.01-2.19)] and stroke [OR(95%CI)=2.08(1.13-3.82), 1.95(1.25-3.04)](P < 0.05). Participants who were lacking physical activity in all famine-exposed groups were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood (P < 0.05). Conclusion Exposure to famine during not only the fetal and infant stage but also the preschool age was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in adulthood, especially for individuals with unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, emphasizing nutrition during the important developmental stages of early life and advocating for a healthy lifestyle can help prevent cardiovascular disease.
- Life change events,
- Cardiovascular diseases,
- Regression analysis,
- Students

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References(26)

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