Identifying and Preventing Cardiac Risk Factors from Fetal Life

Cardiac risk factors in childhood are often overlooked in clinical practice, however cardiac risk factors can start before the child is even born. Maternal factors including diet, genetics, and smoking during gestation can all impact the long-term cardiac health of the offspring. Atherosclerosis starts as early as fetal life and can continue to develop in children with risks including high cholesterol. Current guidelines for screening of cholesterol in children, while improving in recent years, still allows years of damage to accumulate before identifying those at risk. Additionally, intervention for cholesterol and other known risks in children and adolescents are often avoided or started later than necessary for optimal cardiac health. Non-pharmacological approaches like diet and exercise for cholesterol and health management can be implemented very early in life, while many pharmacological options are approved for use in certain conditions as early as ages 8 to 10. Combating cardiac disease reaching endemic levels in the developed world will take an aggressive approach in management starting with identification early in life and utilizing the appropriate tools available, both medical and lifestyle.