Vagal Regulation of Cardiac Function in Early Childhood and Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescence.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Poor behavioral self-regulation in the first 2 decades of life has been identified as an important precursor of disease risk in adulthood. However, physiological regulation has not been well studied as a disease risk factor before adulthood. We tested whether physiological regulation at the age of 2 years, in the form of vagal regulation of cardiac function (indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] change), would predict three indicators of cardiovascular risk at the age of 16 years (diastolic and systolic blood pressure and body mass index).

Methods

Data came from 229 children who participated in a community-based longitudinal study. At the age of 2 years, children were assessed for RSA baseline and RSA change (ln(ms)) in response to a series of challenge tas

SUBMITTER: Gangel MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5489373 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul/Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature