Aortic & peripheral vascular disease

Blood pressure in childhood, young- and mid-adulthood: association with carotid plaque severity

Eur Heart JPublished Prospective cohort study

Main finding · Carotid plaque presenceResult — go to the resultRelative risk 1.22 95% CrI 1.10–1.36

Authors' conclusion

Blood pressure at each life stage contributes equally to carotid plaque presence, with mid-adulthood BP associated with a greater contribution to plaque area.

Study context

Population
Participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with blood pressure (BP) measured in childhood, young adulthood and mid-adulthood
Participants
1,889 participants
Exposure
BP across childhood, young adulthood and mid-adulthood and carotid plaque in mid-adulthood
Outcome
Carotid plaque presence and area in mid-adulthood
Follow-up
38-year follow-up
Methodological detailsBayesian relevant life-course exposure model
  • Bayesian relevant life-course exposure model

Main finding

Carotid plaque presence

Relative risk

1.22

95% CrI 1.10–1.36

By group

Childhood

39.4%

Relative weight

Young adulthood

37.9%

Relative weight

Mid-adulthood

22.7%

Relative weight

Cumulative SBP, per 1-SD increase (∼12 mm Hg)
relative risk 1.22 (95% CrI 1.10–1.36)

Per 1-SD increase, as printed

As reported in the abstract

Participants who developed carotid plaques
745 (39.4%)

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Carotid plaque area · CrI

β (square millimetre) 0.16 (0.08–0.23)

Relative weight

  • Carotid plaque area: 95% CrI

DBP, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure

Similar patterns observed

Original publication

Blood pressure in childhood, young- and mid-adulthood: association with carotid plaque severity. Eur Heart J. Published 25 March 2025. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf139

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