early life factors; epidemiology; carotid intima media thickness; environmental tabacco smoke; adolescence; childhood
Teynor Alexandra, Caviezel Seraina, Dratva Julia, Künzli Nino, Schmidt-Trucksäss Arno (2012), An automated, interactive analysis system for ultrasound sequences of the common carotid artery., in
Ultrasound in medicine & biology, 38(8), 1440-50.
Dratva Julia, Phuleria Harish C, Foraster Maria, Gaspoz Jean-Michel, Keidel Dirk, Künzli Nino, Liu L-J Sally, Pons Marco, Zemp Elisabeth, Gerbase Margaret W, Schindler Christian (2012), Transportation noise and blood pressure in a population-based sample of adults., in
Environmental health perspectives, 120(1), 50-5.
Künzli Nino, Perez Laura, von Klot Stephanie, Baldassarre Damiano, Bauer Marcus, Basagana Xavier, Breton Carrie, Dratva Julia, Elosua Roberto, de Faire Ulf, Fuks Kateryna, de Groot Eric, Marrugat Jaume, Penell Johanna, Seissler Jochen, Peters Annette, Hoffmann Barbara (2011), Investigating air pollution and atherosclerosis in humans: concepts and outlook., in
Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 53(5), 334-43.
Chronic diseases can partially be explained by early life priming factors and tracking of risk factors into older age. Intima media thickness (IMT) is considered an early marker of atherogenesis in child- and adulthood. Environmental tobacco exposure (ETS) in children is highly prevalent. ETS has been associated with childhood illnesses and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Little is known on the role of early life ETS exposure for atherogenesis. 200 off-spring of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution And Lung Diseases In Adults (SAPALDIA), born 1991-2001, to equal parts ETS exposed and non-exposed in childhood, will be recruited in 2010 to investigate the hypothesis that early life ETS exposure is associated with an increased IMT, potentially amplified by childhood infections. The prospectively collected parental data from SAPALDIA 1 and 2 offer the unique possibility to estimate unbiased early life environmental exposures, such as ETS, and to study their effect on atherogenesis.