Early Growth Patterns Associated with Cardiovascular Disease

Clearly, the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood is influenced by growth very early in life, even prior to birth. Substantial evidence indicates that impaired fetal growth and subsequent low birth weight are associated with adult cardiovascular disease and related mortality, and there is emerging evidence that elevated birth weight has similar associations. Patterns of rapid and slow infant growth are each associated with multiple cardiovascular disease processes, and rapid growth during childhood is also predictive of adult cardiovascular disease. Additionally, early adiposity rebound is linked to obesity and diabetes mellitus later in life.