PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides an overview of recent findings concerning the cardiovascular effects of childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). RECENT FINDINGS: Epidemiological studies have shown that childhood ETS exposure is associated with increased occurrence of several cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome. Several cross-sectional analyses have found that ETS adversely affects arterial structure (increased intima-media thickness) and function (decreased elasticity and endothelial function). In addition, recent findings suggest that individuals exposed in childhood have significantly reduced brachial artery endothelial function 20 years later in adulthood. Importantly, this effect could not be explained by adult risk factor levels or smoking behaviors. So far, results from intervention studies to promote parental smoking cessation have been disappointing, with an average success rate of less than 25% in intervention studies. SUMMARY: Childhood ETS exposure is strongly associated with both cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. As present, intervention strategies for parental smoking cessation seem inadequate; there is an urgent need for innovative intervention strategies to protect children from the detrimental effects of ETS.

Item Type:	Substantial Review
Keywords:	atherosclerosis, cardiovascular, childhood, passive-smoking
Research Division:	Health Sciences
Research Group:	Epidemiology
Research Field:	Epidemiology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Magnussen, CG (Associate Professor Costan Magnussen)
ID Code:	87779
Year Published:	2013
Funding Support:	National Health and Medical Research Council (1037559)
Web of Science® Times Cited:	17
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2013-12-05
Last Modified:	2013-12-05
Downloads:	0