Association between early age body mass index and the risk of adulthood cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Background: Several studies have attempted to demonstrate the associations between body mass index (BMI) in early age and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, their findings were inconsistent and inconclusive, indicating the need for further investigation.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies focusing on BMI in early age (age from 2 to 22) in relation to CVDs in adulthood, including coronary artery disease (CHD), ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure. Fixed-effects and Random-effects models were used to pool the data. Sex, age, adjustment of socioeconomic status and fatal events specific analysis were conducted to examine their effects on the results.

Results: Thirty-eight studies were eligible for inclusion. BMI in early age was positively related to CVD (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07-1.30), CHD (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19), heart failure (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.11-1.20) but not stroke (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.93-1.05). The results remained consistent after stratified by sex, fatal or non-fatal events and adjustment for socioeconomic status. Further age-specific analysis showed that both childhood and early adulthood group showed positive associations on CHD and HF. While estimates in early adulthood for all CVDs were numerically higher than that for childhood. Category analyses showed a positive association between being overweight or obesity and adulthood CVDs, including stroke.

Conclusion: We found a positive association between early-age BMI and adulthood cardiovascular diseases except for stroke.

Trial registration: Systemic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/Prospero/ , identifier CRD42023403602.