Defining early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium

Ruan Kruger; Jeanne Hersant; Vimarsha Kodithuwakku; Michél Strauss-Kruger; Manish D. Sinha; Madeleine Johansson; Mieczysław Litwin; Henner Hanssen; Karsten Königstein; Erzsébet V. Hidvégi; Lee Stoner; Keeron Stone; Christopher J.A. Pugh; Catharina M.C. Mels; Yolandi Breet; Wayne Smith; Daniel Bia; Yanina Zócalo; Alejandro Diaz; Anuradha Khadilkar; Vikas R. Dharnidharka; Giacomo Pucci; Elaine M. Urbina; Rosa Maria Bruno; Peter M. Nilsson; Rachel E. Climie

doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056

Defining early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium

Ruan Kruger, Jeanne Hersant, Vimarsha Kodithuwakku, Michél Strauss-Kruger, Manish D. Sinha, Madeleine Johansson, Mieczysław Litwin, Henner Hanssen, Karsten Königstein, Erzsébet V. Hidvégi, Lee Stoner, Keeron Stone, Christopher J.A. Pugh, Catharina M.C. Mels, Yolandi Breet, Wayne Smith, Daniel Bia, Yanina Zócalo, Alejandro Diaz, Anuradha KhadilkarVikas R. Dharnidharka, Giacomo Pucci, Elaine M. Urbina, Rosa Maria Bruno, Peter M. Nilsson, Rachel E. Climie^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The concept of early vascular aging (EVA) was introduced to identify adults at risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease. EVA, or the dissociation between chronologic and biologic age of large arteries, is an evolving concept. In this review, we propose that EVA in youth characterizes the early life biological and environmental risk factors that precede overt EVA. During early infancy, childhood and/or adolescence, structural and/ or functional characteristics of the macrovascular and/or microvascular system may deviate from that expected for the chronological age of the individual. Assessing vascular aging from a young age may help detect and prevent the early onset of cardiovascular disease. This consensus document from the Youth Vascular Consortium outlines the principles of EVA in youth (birth to 24years), examines factors influencing vascular growth, and identifies current knowledge gaps. It also provides an expert consensus on defining EVA in youth. Supplementary Tables 1–3, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C733, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C734,http://links.lww.com/HJH/C735 supply key references for risk factors associated with EVA at different points in development; 1. Neonates to childhood; 2. Adolescence; 3. Young adults. Supplementary Table 4, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C736 displays reference ranges of EVA in adults.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Hypertension
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056
Publication status	Published - 21 May 2025

Keywords

adolescence
arterial aging
arterial stiffness
arteriosclerosis
atherosclerosis
biological maturation
childhood
early vascular aging
pulse wave velocity

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056

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Kruger, R., Hersant, J., Kodithuwakku, V., Strauss-Kruger, M., Sinha, M. D., Johansson, M., Litwin, M., Hanssen, H., Königstein, K., Hidvégi, E. V., Stoner, L., Stone, K., Pugh, C. J. A., Mels, C. M. C., Breet, Y., Smith, W., Bia, D., Zócalo, Y., Diaz, A., ... Climie, R. E. (2025). Defining early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium. Journal of Hypertension. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056

@article{80ac477e531b4ca8aeaf0be6fa94fe94,

title = "Defining early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium",

abstract = "The concept of early vascular aging (EVA) was introduced to identify adults at risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease. EVA, or the dissociation between chronologic and biologic age of large arteries, is an evolving concept. In this review, we propose that EVA in youth characterizes the early life biological and environmental risk factors that precede overt EVA. During early infancy, childhood and/or adolescence, structural and/ or functional characteristics of the macrovascular and/or microvascular system may deviate from that expected for the chronological age of the individual. Assessing vascular aging from a young age may help detect and prevent the early onset of cardiovascular disease. This consensus document from the Youth Vascular Consortium outlines the principles of EVA in youth (birth to 24years), examines factors influencing vascular growth, and identifies current knowledge gaps. It also provides an expert consensus on defining EVA in youth. Supplementary Tables 1–3, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C733, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C734,http://links.lww.com/HJH/C735 supply key references for risk factors associated with EVA at different points in development; 1. Neonates to childhood; 2. Adolescence; 3. Young adults. Supplementary Table 4, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C736 displays reference ranges of EVA in adults.",

keywords = "adolescence, arterial aging, arterial stiffness, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, biological maturation, childhood, early vascular aging, pulse wave velocity",

author = "Ruan Kruger and Jeanne Hersant and Vimarsha Kodithuwakku and Mich{\'e}l Strauss-Kruger and Sinha, {Manish D.} and Madeleine Johansson and Mieczys{\l}aw Litwin and Henner Hanssen and Karsten K{\"o}nigstein and Hidv{\'e}gi, {Erzs{\'e}bet V.} and Lee Stoner and Keeron Stone and Pugh, {Christopher J.A.} and Mels, {Catharina M.C.} and Yolandi Breet and Wayne Smith and Daniel Bia and Yanina Z{\'o}calo and Alejandro Diaz and Anuradha Khadilkar and Dharnidharka, {Vikas R.} and Giacomo Pucci and Urbina, {Elaine M.} and Bruno, {Rosa Maria} and Nilsson, {Peter M.} and Climie, {Rachel E.}",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of Hypertension",

issn = "0263-6352",

publisher = "Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)",

}

Kruger, R, Hersant, J, Kodithuwakku, V, Strauss-Kruger, M, Sinha, MD, Johansson, M, Litwin, M, Hanssen, H, Königstein, K, Hidvégi, EV, Stoner, L, Stone, K , Pugh, CJA, Mels, CMC, Breet, Y, Smith, W, Bia, D, Zócalo, Y, Diaz, A, Khadilkar, A, Dharnidharka, VR, Pucci, G, Urbina, EM, Bruno, RM, Nilsson, PM & Climie, RE 2025, 'Defining early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium', Journal of Hypertension. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056

TY - JOUR

T1 - Defining early vascular aging in youth

T2 - an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium

AU - Kruger, Ruan

AU - Hersant, Jeanne

AU - Kodithuwakku, Vimarsha

AU - Strauss-Kruger, Michél

AU - Sinha, Manish D.

AU - Johansson, Madeleine

AU - Litwin, Mieczysław

AU - Hanssen, Henner

AU - Königstein, Karsten

AU - Hidvégi, Erzsébet V.

AU - Stoner, Lee

AU - Stone, Keeron

AU - Pugh, Christopher J.A.

AU - Mels, Catharina M.C.

AU - Breet, Yolandi

AU - Smith, Wayne

AU - Bia, Daniel

AU - Zócalo, Yanina

AU - Diaz, Alejandro

AU - Khadilkar, Anuradha

AU - Dharnidharka, Vikas R.

AU - Pucci, Giacomo

AU - Urbina, Elaine M.

AU - Bruno, Rosa Maria

AU - Nilsson, Peter M.

AU - Climie, Rachel E.

PY - 2025/5/21

Y1 - 2025/5/21

N2 - The concept of early vascular aging (EVA) was introduced to identify adults at risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease. EVA, or the dissociation between chronologic and biologic age of large arteries, is an evolving concept. In this review, we propose that EVA in youth characterizes the early life biological and environmental risk factors that precede overt EVA. During early infancy, childhood and/or adolescence, structural and/ or functional characteristics of the macrovascular and/or microvascular system may deviate from that expected for the chronological age of the individual. Assessing vascular aging from a young age may help detect and prevent the early onset of cardiovascular disease. This consensus document from the Youth Vascular Consortium outlines the principles of EVA in youth (birth to 24years), examines factors influencing vascular growth, and identifies current knowledge gaps. It also provides an expert consensus on defining EVA in youth. Supplementary Tables 1–3, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C733, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C734,http://links.lww.com/HJH/C735 supply key references for risk factors associated with EVA at different points in development; 1. Neonates to childhood; 2. Adolescence; 3. Young adults. Supplementary Table 4, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C736 displays reference ranges of EVA in adults.

AB - The concept of early vascular aging (EVA) was introduced to identify adults at risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease. EVA, or the dissociation between chronologic and biologic age of large arteries, is an evolving concept. In this review, we propose that EVA in youth characterizes the early life biological and environmental risk factors that precede overt EVA. During early infancy, childhood and/or adolescence, structural and/ or functional characteristics of the macrovascular and/or microvascular system may deviate from that expected for the chronological age of the individual. Assessing vascular aging from a young age may help detect and prevent the early onset of cardiovascular disease. This consensus document from the Youth Vascular Consortium outlines the principles of EVA in youth (birth to 24years), examines factors influencing vascular growth, and identifies current knowledge gaps. It also provides an expert consensus on defining EVA in youth. Supplementary Tables 1–3, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C733, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C734,http://links.lww.com/HJH/C735 supply key references for risk factors associated with EVA at different points in development; 1. Neonates to childhood; 2. Adolescence; 3. Young adults. Supplementary Table 4, http://links.lww.com/HJH/C736 displays reference ranges of EVA in adults.

KW - adolescence

KW - arterial aging

KW - arterial stiffness

KW - arteriosclerosis

KW - atherosclerosis

KW - biological maturation

KW - childhood

KW - early vascular aging

KW - pulse wave velocity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105008118330&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056

DO - 10.1097/HJH.0000000000004056

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105008118330

SN - 0263-6352

JO - Journal of Hypertension

JF - Journal of Hypertension

ER -

Defining early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the youth vascular consortium

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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