B3622 - Associations between sedentary time and physical activity with arterial function and structure from childhood to adulthood - 29/09/2020

B number: 
B3622
Principal applicant name: 
Alan Barker | University of Exeter (England)
Co-applicants: 
Miss Kate M. Sansum , Dr. Bert Bond, Dr. Richard Pulsford, Prof. Alison McManus, Dr. Andrew Agbaje, Prof. Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen
Title of project: 
Associations between sedentary time and physical activity with arterial function and structure from childhood to adulthood
Proposal summary: 

It is well established that cardiovascular disease (CVD) begins in childhood. Impairments in vascular function occur before the structural changes of CVD present in the arteries and the progression of CVD is related to CVD risk factors, such as cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, body composition and blood markers, in youth. Therefore, there is great interest in understanding how exposure to early lifestyle factors could be related to CVD risk in children and adolescents. Our current project utilising the ALSPAC data (B3455) is investigating the associations between early exposure to cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition with measures of arterial structure and function. However, physical activity and sedentary time are additional important markers of health, and warrant exploration for their potential associations with arterial structure and function at an early age.

Existing paediatric data examining associations between physical activity and/or sedentary time with measures of arterial structure and function are limited by small sample sizes and a subjective assessment of physical activity. Therefore, the current models are unable to account for a suitable number of confounding variables. Also, most studies have used cross-sectional design, and those which are longitudinal have a maximum follow up period of two years. Moreover, independent relationships of physical activity and sedentary time with arterial structure and function, may be altered by an existing interaction between physical activity and/or sedentary time.

Recent experimental data in prepubertal children has shown that the decline in arterial function during prolonged sitting can be prevented by performing 10 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each hour. There is evidence on the interaction between physical activity and/or sedentary time and traditional CVD risk factors, such as body composition and blood markers, in children and adolescents. However, there is a scarcity of data at a population level that examines how sedentary time and physical activity interact in children and how this relates to direct measures of vascular function and structure. Therefore, this project aims to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between the early life exposure to physical activity and sedentary time with vascular function and structure from childhood to adulthood, while controlling for traditional CVD risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Impact of research: 
The findings of the project will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at conferences. The University of Exeter will also publish a press release on the project findings for the general public. Furthermore, it is hoped the findings will contribute to development of future interventions and policy surrounding sedentary behaviour guidelines that aim to delay the progression of sub-clinical arterial diseases in childhood.
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 23 September, 2020
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 29 September, 2020
Keywords: 
Paediatric Exercise Medicine/Physiology and Epidemiology, Cardiovascular disease , Statistical methods, Allometric scaling, mixed-method , Ageing, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc., Blood pressure, BMI, Cardiovascular, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Physical - activity, fitness, function, Puberty, Sex differences, Statistical methods, Cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function, metabolic health, carotid intima-media thickness, arterial distensibility, obesity, fat-free mass, fat mass, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, public health.