A review on the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle aspects of the early-life origins of cardiovascular disease

Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2014 Mar;44(3):54-72. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.12.005.

Abstract

This article is a comprehensive review on developmental origins of health and disease regarding various factors related to the origins of cardiovascular diseases from early life. It presents a summary of the impacts of various factors such as epigenetics; gene-environment interaction; ethnic predisposition to cardiovascular diseases and their underlying risk factors; prenatal factors; fetal programming; maternal weight status and weight gain during pregnancy; type of feeding during infancy; growth pattern during childhood; obesity; stunting; socioeconomic status; dietary and physical activity habits; active, secondhand, and thirdhand smoking, as well as environmental factors including air pollution and global climate change on the development and progress of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. The importance of early identification of predisposing factors for cardiovascular diseases for primordial and primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases from early life is highlighted.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Fetal Development
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Life Style
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / etiology
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / adverse effects

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution