Focusing on Cardiovascular Health in Childhood Shows Lifelong Benefits

Maintaining optimal heart health from birth through adolescence was reported to lead to long-lasting cardiovascular, physical, cognitive, and mental health, according to findings published by investigators in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study authors noted that cardiovascular health in childhood leads to lower risks of cancer, dementia, lung disease, liver disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, depression, and hearing loss, along with better cognitive, dental, and eye health.^1,2

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Pediatric Cardiovascular Health

According to the American Heart Association, rising rates of childhood obesity, specifically in the US, have led to an increase in cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk factors. From 2009 to 2010, 17% of pediatrics in the US aged 2 to 19 were obese, and another 15% were overweight, with minority, low-income, and rural populations disproportionately affected. Additionally, children with obesity commonly have worse cholesterol and blood pressure levels, emphasizing the importance of ideal heart health.³

The American Heart Association developed metrics, known as Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), that included 4 health behaviors—diet, physical activity, smoking avoidance, and sleep—and 3 clinical metrics, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose.^1,2

“Childhood is a unique window where keeping these cardiovascular health metrics in optimal ranges will have a long-term benefit to all body systems, not just the heart,” Amanda Marma Perak, MD, MSCI, senior author, pediatric cardiologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and assistant professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release.²

Review Finds Low Cardiovascular Health Globally

Researchers from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine conducted a review that assessed 483 studies that were published between January 2010 and January 2021 that used the LS7 structure.^1,2

The results demonstrated that cardiovascular health was generally low globally and declined with age, despite finding a strong link between cardiovascular health and overall well-being. Additionally, significant disparities were linked with lower cardiovascular health, including underrepresented individuals and those facing adverse social conditions.^1,2

“Parents can focus on the 4 health habits—setting up their child’s daily routines to include a healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, and protected time for sleep, and then making clear their expectations about not smoking or vaping as the child gets older,” Perak said in the news release. “For the 4 clinical factors, parents can check in with the pediatrician at each well-child visit to make sure that their child’s BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels are on track for a healthy future.”²

The findings suggest that ideal cardiovascular health was linked to lower inflammation, as poor cardiovascular health is linked to a decline with age. However, the study authors noted that more research is needed to target more populations and develop improvements for children that face an increased risk of reduced cardiovascular health.^1,2

“Early prevention is key to a healthy adulthood. If parents are concerned about their child’s risk factors for heart disease, the Preventive Cardiology Program at Lurie Children’s can help set kids on a healthier path,” Marma Perak concluded. “We treat children with risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, or a family history of early heart attacks or strokes. Our goal is to improve measures of cardiovascular health and prevent chronic diseases from head to toe.”²

REFERENCES

1. Aguayo L, Cotoc C. Guo J. et al. Cardiovascular Health, 2010 to 2020: A Systematic Review of a Decade of Research on Life's Simple 7. Journal of the American Heart Association. doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.124.038566

2. Optimal heart health in children cuts risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. EurekAlert! News release. July 16, 2025. Accessed August 6, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1091131

3. Steinberger J, Daniels S. Hagberg N. et al. Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Children: Challenges and Opportunities for 2020 and Beyond: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Journal of the American Heart Association. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000441