The prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCDs) is rising globally, with a large burden recorded in sub-Saharan countries and populations of black race/ethnicity. Accelerated vascular deterioration, otherwise known as early vascular aging (EVA), is the underlying factor for highly prevalent NCDs such as hypertension. The etiology of EVA is multifactorial with a central component being arterial stiffness with subsequent development of hypertension and cardiovascular complications. Although arterial stiffness develops with increasing age, many children and adolescents are subjected to the premature development of arterial stiffness, due to genetic or epigenetic predispositions, lifestyle and behavioral risk factors, and early life programming. Race/ethnic differences in pediatric populations have also been reported with higher aortic stiffness in black (African American) compared with age-matched white (European American) counterparts independent of blood pressure, body mass index, or socioeconomic status. With known evidence of race/ethnic differences in EVA, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying graded differences in the programming of EVA are still sparse and rarely explored. This educational review aims to address the early life determinants of EVA in children and adolescents with a particular focus on racial or ethnic differences.

中文翻译：

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儿童和青少年早期血管老化的种族差异。


全球非传染性疾病（NCD）的患病率正在上升，撒哈拉以南非洲国家和黑人种族/族裔人口承受着巨大的负担。血管加速恶化，也称为早期血管老化（EVA），是高血压等非传染性疾病高度流行的根本因素。 EVA 的病因是多因素的，其中一个核心因素是动脉僵硬，随后会出现高血压和心血管并发症。尽管动脉僵硬随着年龄的增长而发展，但由于遗传或表观遗传倾向、生活方式和行为风险因素以及早期生活规划，许多儿童和青少年会过早出现动脉僵硬。据报道，儿科人群中存在种族/民族差异，黑人（非洲裔美国人）的主动脉僵硬度高于年龄匹配的白人（欧洲裔美国人），与血压、体重指数或社会经济地位无关。尽管 EVA 中存在种族/民族差异的已知证据，但 EVA 编程中分级差异背后的病理生理机制仍然很少且很少被探索。本教育综述旨在解决儿童和青少年 EVA 的早期生活决定因素，特别关注种族或民族差异。