Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults

Children and young adults with one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease are more likely to have fatty streaks and plaques in their blood vessels that could lead to atherosclerosis. Researchers examined autopsy samples from the aorta and coronary arteries of 93 young people aged 2 to 39 years who died from different causes. Cardiovascular risk factors included obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats. The more risk factors the individual had, the greater the amount of fatty streaks and plaques in the aorta and coronary arteries.