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- Chen, Yun, 1966, et al.
(author)
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Age- and sex-related differences in vascular function and vascular response to mental stress Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in a cohort of healthy children and adolescents.
- 2012
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 220:1, s. 269-274
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Limited data, especially from longitudinal studies, are available regarding vascular health assessment in childhood. In this study, we performed longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in healthy children and adolescents to investigate age- and sex-related differences in vascular functions and vascular response to mental stress. Methods: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured by tonometry. Endothelial function and vascular response to mental arithmetic test were assessed using a peripheral artery tonometry device. Data were obtained in 162 adolescents (mean age of 17 years, 94 girls) in a 3-year follow-up study and 241 children (mean age of 10 years, 115 girls) in a first-time investigation. Physical activity was assessed in adolescents by a self-report questionnaire. Results: Our 3-year follow-up study revealed that the increased PWV was greater in male adolescents (0.79 ± 0.79 m/s) than in females (0.27 ± 0.89 m/s, p < 0.001). Adolescents who reported decreased physical activity over the 3-year period had increased arterial stiffness. Comparing the cross-sectional data, we found that sex-related differences in reactive hyperemic response was more apparent by evaluating the overall response curve than measuring the reactive hyperemic index from one arbitrary time point, with lower peak response and smaller area-under-curve found in boys. Moreover, we found that, in response to mental stress, male adolescents had a more vasoconstrictive response, followed by a less vasodilatory response, and needed longer time to return to baseline level than the females. Conclusion: These findings suggest that boys are likely to have adverse changes in vascular health earlier than the age-matched girls.
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- Chen, Yun, 1966, et al.
(author)
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High levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, insulin resistance and saturated fatty acids are associated with endothelial dysfunction in healthy adolescents.
- 2010
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 211:2, s. 638-42
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerosis begins and progresses during childhood and adolescence. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the earliest abnormalities that can be detected in the development of atherosclerosis. As the determinants of endothelial function in childhood are unknown, we investigated the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on endothelial function in a cohort of healthy adolescents. METHODS: A total of 257 adolescents (age: 14.5+/-1.0 years, 138 girls) participated in this study. Endothelial function was measured as reactive hyperemic index (RHI) using a fingertip peripheral arterial tonometry device. Blood samples were collected for analysis of lipids, insulin, glucose, fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids, and markers of inflammation and endothelial function. RESULTS: There was no gender difference in RHI. Boys had higher plasma level of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), P-selectin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and lower level of insulin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), ApoA1, ApoB, and docosahexaenoic acid of plasma phospholipids than girls. There was no gender difference regarding triacylglycerol, triacylglycerol/HDL, LDL/HDL and ApoB/ApoA. The RHI was inversely associated with plasma ICAM-1 (p=0.0003), HOMA index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, p=0.001) and saturated fatty acids of plasma phospholipids (SFA, p=0.001). The associations remained significant after adjusting for age, height, BMI-z-score, sex, blood pressure, HDL and smoking. CONCLUSION: In healthy adolescents impaired endothelial function is significantly associated with high level of soluble ICAM-1, HOMA-IR and SFA.
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- Chen, Yun, 1966, et al.
(author)
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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and health behaviors in Swedish adolescents
- 2022
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 50, s. 26-32
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: There is an urgent need to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health and health behaviours. To date, there are no such studies on Swedish adolescents. As COVID-19 emerged in the middle of our ongoing 2-year follow-up examination of the Study of Adolescence Resilience and Stress, we had the unique opportunity to use the corona outbreak as a 'natural experiment' to study the impact of COVID-19 on 15-year-old adolescents in Sweden. Methods: Adolescents (baseline age 13.6 +/- 0.4 years) were recruited from schools in western Sweden (during the COVID-19 outbreak schools were kept open for those under 16 years of age). The COVID-19 pandemic reached Sweden on 31 January 2020. A total of 1316 adolescents answered the 2-year follow-up survey before (unexposed to COVID-19 pandemic, controls) and 584 after 1 February 2020 (COVID19-exposed). Data on stress, psychosomatic symptoms, happiness, relationships with parents and peers, school and health behaviours were collected. Results: Adolescents reported higher levels of stress and psychosomatic symptoms and lower levels of happiness at follow-up compared to baseline. These changes occurred to a similar extent in both the control and COVID-19-exposed groups. Likewise, the COVID-19-exposed group showed no deterioration in peer relations or relations with parents versus controls. We did not find any significant differences between groups regarding sleep duration and physical activity. Conclusions: Swedish adolescents exposed to COVID-19 during most of 2020 showed no differences in longitudinal changes in mental health, relationships with parents and peers, and health behaviours compared to those not exposed to COVID-19.
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- Dangardt, Frida, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Increased Rate of Arterial Stiffening with Obesity in Adolescents: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
- 2013
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In: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background We prospectively and longitudinally determined the effects of childhood obesity on arterial stiffening and vascular wall changes. Changes in arterial stiffness measured as pulse wave velocity (PWV) and vascular morphology of the radial (RA) and dorsal pedal arteries (DPA) were examined in obese adolescents compared to lean subjects in a 5-year follow-up study. Methodology/Principal Findings A total of 28 obese subjects and 14 lean controls participated in both baseline (14 years old) and follow-up studies. PWV was measured by tonometer (SphygmoCor®) and recorded at RA and carotid artery, respectively. Intima thickness (IT), intima-media thickness (IMT) and RA and DPA diameters were measured using high-resolution ultrasound (Vevo 770™). Over the course of 5 years, PWV increased by 25% in the obese subjects as compared to 3% in the controls (p = 0.01). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increased by 23% in the obese subjects as opposed to 6% in controls (p = 0.009). BMI increased similarly in both groups, as did the IT and IMT. The change in PWV was strongly associated to the baseline BMI z -score (r = 0.51, p<0.001), as was the change in DBP (r = 0.50, p = 0.001). Conclusions/Significance During the transition from early to late adolescence, there was a general increase in arterial stiffness, which was aggravated by childhood obesity. The increase in arterial stiffness and DBP after 5 years was closely correlated to the baseline BMI z -score, indicating that childhood obesity has an adverse impact on vascular adaptation.
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- Dangardt, Frida, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improves vascular function and reduces inflammation in obese adolescents.
- 2010
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 212:2, s. 580-5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Compared to normal weight adolescents, obese adolescents have lower serum omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, augmented inflammatory activity and endothelial dysfunction. We wanted to assess whether n-3 supplementation increases the serum n-3 PUFA concentration, improves vascular function and morphology, and lowers inflammation in obese adolescents.
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- Dangardt, Frida, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Reduced cardiac vagal activity in obese children and adolescents
- 2011
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In: Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging. - 1475-0961. ; 31:2, s. 108-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Obese children present with various cardiovascular risk factors affecting their future health. In adults, cardiac autonomic function is a major risk factor, predicting cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that obese children and adolescents had a lower cardiac vagal activity than lean subjects. We measured cardiac spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), reflecting the dynamic regulation of cardiac vagal function, in large groups of obese and lean young individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiac BRS, using the sequence approach, was assessed in 120 obese (59 girls), 43 overweight (23 girls) and 148 lean subjects (78 girls). Obese subjects showed a decreased BRS compared to both overweight and lean subjects [16+/-7 versus 21+/-9 (P<0.01) and 22+/-10 ms per mmHg (P<0.0001), respectively]. The differences remained after correcting for age, gender and pubertal status. CONCLUSION: Children with obesity had low vagal activity at rest, and there was no gender difference.
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- Laundy, Katarina, 1966, et al.
(author)
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Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Children with Mental Health Problems: a 2-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Study
- 2021
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In: Mindfulness. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1868-8527 .- 1868-8535. ; 12, s. 3073-3085
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Moderate mental health problems are highly prevalent and increasing in Swedish schoolchildren, elevating risk for future mental and somatic disability. The aim of this study was to determine whether an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention, Training for Mindfulness and Resilience (TMR), mitigates mental health symptoms and increases resilience during a 2-year follow-up. Methods: Schoolchildren (aged 9–14years) reporting moderate mental health problems were randomized into either TMR intervention group (N = 22) or control group, receiving best current practice (N = 12). We used validated questionnaires to measure anxiety, depression, anger, disruptive behavior, self-concept, resilience, stress, and mindfulness before treatment with either TMR or control, as well as at 6months, 1year, and 2years follow-up. Results: We found a statistically significant effect of TMR intervention vs control, on resilience, anxiety, anger, and disruptive behavior. Compared to baseline, TMR increased the level of resilience at 6months (p <.001); anxiety at 1 (p < =.033) and 2years (p =.04); anger at 6months (p =.004) and 2years (p =.039); disruptive behavior at 6months (p =.006). In the control group, a decrease in resilience between 6months and 2years (p =.05) was observed. No other significant effects were found in the control group. Conclusions: This study suggested that TMR improved mental health in schoolchildren with effects on anxiety and anger lasting for 2years, and on resilience and disruptive behavior lasting for 6months. Trial Registration Number: NCT04806542, date of registration 18th of March 2021, retrospectively registered.
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- Chen, Yun, 1966, et al.
(author)
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Association between childhood BMI trajectories and cardiometabolic risk and mental health problems at the age of 13 years: the cohort STudy of Adolescence Resilience and Stress (STARS)
- 2023
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In: The Lancet. Global health. - 2214-109X. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Research on BMI trajectories has been focused mainly on childhood and adolescence, missing birth and infancy, which are also relevant in the development of cardiometabolic disease in adulthood. We aimed to identify trajectories of BMI from birth throughout childhood, and to examine whether BMI trajectories predict health outcomes at the age of 13 years; and, if so, whether differences exist among trajectories regarding timeframes during which BMI in early life influences health outcomes. METHODS: Participants recruited from schools in the Västra Götaland region of Sweden completed questionnaires of perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms and were examined for the following cardiometabolic risk factors: BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, pulse-wave velocity, and white blood cell counts. We collected ten retrospective measures of weight and height, from birth to the age of 12 years. Participants with at least five measures (at birth, one at age 6-18 months, two at age 2-8 years, and one at age 10-13 years) were included in the analyses. We used group-based trajectory modelling to identify BMI trajectories, ANOVA to compare different trajectories, and linear regression to assess associations. FINDINGS: We recruited 1902 participants (829 [44%] boys and 1073 [56%] girls, median age 13·6 years (IQR 13·3-13·8). We identified and named three BMI trajectories, and categorised participants accordingly: normal gain (847 [44%] participants), moderate gain (815 [43%] participants), and excessive gain (240 [13%] participants). Differences distinguishing these trajectories were established before the age of 2 years. After adjustments for sex, age, migrant background, and parental income, respondents with excessive gain had a higher waist circumference (mean difference 19·2 cm [95% CI 18·4-20·0]), higher systolic blood pressure (mean difference 3·6 mm Hg [95% CI 2·4-4·4]), more white blood cells (mean difference 0·7×10⁹ cells per L [95% CI 0·4-0·9]), and higher stress scores (mean difference 1·1 [95% CI 0·2-1·9]), but similar pulse-wave velocity compared with adolescents with normal gain. Higher waist circumference (mean difference 6·4 cm [95% CI 5·8-6·9]), higher systolic blood pressure (mean difference 1·8 mm Hg [95% CI 1·0-2·5]), and a higher stress score (mean difference 0·7 [95% CI 0·1-1·2]) were also found in adolescents with moderate gain, compared with adolescents with normal gain. Regarding timeframes, we observed that a significant positive correlation of early life BMI with systolic blood pressure started approximately at the age 6 years for participants with excessive gain, much earlier than for participants with normal gain and moderate gain, for which it started at the age of 12 years. For waist circumference, white blood cell counts, stress, and psychosomatic symptoms, the timeframes were similar across the three BMI trajectories. INTERPRETATION: Excessive gain BMI trajectory from birth can predict both cardiometabolic risk and stress and psychosomatic symptoms in adolescents before the age of 13 years.
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