Measuring early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the Youth Vascular Consortium
Jeanne Hersant, Ruan Kruger, Elisabetta Bianchini, Karsten Königstein, Manish D. Sinha, Erzsébet Valéria Hidvégi, Vimarsha Kodithuwakku, José Geraldo Mill, Alejandro Díaz, Yanina Zócalo, Daniel Bia, David S. Celermajer, Henner Hanssen, Madeleine Johansson, Giacomo Pucci, Mieczysław Litwin, Keeron Stone, Christopher J. A. Pugh, Lee Stoner, Elaine M. Urbina, Rosa María Bruno, Peter Nilsson, Rachel E. Climie
Abstract
Since the conceptualization of early vascular aging (EVA) in 2008, significant efforts have been made to develop and improve its assessment. Initially lead by the investigation of arterial stiffness through pulse wave velocity (PWV), several additional vascular aging biomarkers have gained prominence in recent years. Despite expanding literature addressing methodological concerns associated with these biomarkers in youth, a standardized approach for clinical evaluation of EVA remains elusive, leaving pertinent gaps in understanding the optimal methodology. This article, resulting from international consensus efforts from the Youth Vascular Consortium, aims to provide an updated overview of methods available to measure EVA in youth and to discuss challenges in translating these methods into clinical practice.