Cardiac Structure and Function in 8- to 12-Year-Old Children Following In-Utero Exposure to Preeclampsia (FINNCARE Study).

Background: We evaluated how elevated blood pressure in children exposed to preeclampsia (PE) impacted on their cardiac structure and function, as well as relations with maternal, gestational, and perinatal factors and child body size and composition.

Methods And Results: A total of 182 PE (46 early-onset preeclampsia) and 85 unexposed (non-PE) children were examined in the FINNCARE study 8 to 12 years after the index pregnancy with echocardiography; office, central, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures; and body anthropometrics and composition. PE children had lower right ventricular basal sphericity index (mean difference, -0.

Cumulative risk factors for injuries and poisoning requiring hospital care in youth with prenatal substance exposure: A longitudinal controlled cohort study.

To investigate whether the youth with prenatal substance exposure (PSE) (aged 15-24 years,  = 615) had been in hospital care more often due to injuries and poisoning in comparison with unexposed matched controls ( = 1787). Data from medical records (exposure) and national health and social welfare registers (outcome and confounders) were combined and youths were monitored from birth until either outpatient or inpatient hospital care for injury or poisoning, death or the end of the study period (December 2016). Cox regression models were used in the analyses accounting for associated child and maternal risk factors.

Associations Between Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health in 6-Year-Old Children Born to Mothers With Increased Cardiometabolic Risk.

Purpose: To assess associations between sedentary time (ST), physical activity (PA), and cardiovascular health in early childhood.

Method: Cross-sectional study including 160 children (age 6.1 y [SD 0.

Preeclampsia-exposed children's heart rate variability 8-12 yr after index pregnancy: FINNCARE study.

Preeclampsia is related with elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in children. We studied if preeclampsia-exposed (PE) children develop alterations in heart rate variability (HRV) and if this is reflected in their blood pressure (BP), as well as overall associations with body size and composition, gestational and perinatal factors. We examined 182 PE (46 early-onset PE) and 85 unexposed (non-PE) children 8-12 yr after preeclampsia exposure.

Determinants of vascular structure and function in at-risk children born to mothers managed for pre-eclampsia (FINNCARE study).

Background And Aim: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is related to elevated blood pressure (BP) in children. The study aims to investigate if elevated BP is reflected in child arterial health and how anthropometrics, body composition, and gestational and perinatal factors influenced this.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we assessed the arteries of 182 children exposed (46 had an early onset, with a diagnosis before 34 gestational weeks, and 136 had a late onset) and 85 children unexposed (non-PE) to PE at 8-12 years from delivery using ultra-high-frequency ultrasound in addition to ambulatory and central BPs, body composition and anthropometrics, and tonometry-derived pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Early Counseling to Improve Oral Health Behavior in Children with Major Congenital Heart Defects: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Maintaining optimal oral health behavior in children with a congenital heart defect (CHD) is important in managing the risk for caries development and infective endocarditis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an early and repeat oral health promotion intervention (OHPI) among children with major CHD. Randomized controlled trial including 72 out of 91 children born in Finland April 1, 2017-October 31, 2020 with (a) major CHD potentially included in the criteria of endocarditis prophylaxis or (b) any CHD with surgical repair combined with a chromosomal syndrome.

Blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and cardiovascular risk profiles in 8-12-year-old children following preeclampsia (FINNCARE-study).

Objectives: The aim was to study if children following preeclampsia (PE) develop alterations in blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness already early in life, and how this is associated with gestational, perinatal and child cardiovascular risk profiles.

Methods: One hundred eighty-two PE (46 early-onset with diagnosis before 34 gestational weeks, and 136 late-onset) and 85 non-PE children were assessed 8-12 years from delivery. Office and 24-h ambulatory BP, body composition, anthropometrics, lipids, glucose, inflammatory markers, and tonometry-derived pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central BPs were assessed.

Adverse childhood experiences and neurodevelopmental disorders among youth with and without prenatal substance exposure: A longitudinal matched register-based cohort study.

Previous research has shown an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and secondary mental health problems in youth with prenatal substance exposure (PSE), but the association between ACEs and neurodevelopmental disorders is less clear. This longitudinal register-based cohort study investigated relationships between health at birth, ACEs (out-of-home care (OHC) and maternal adversities), and neurodevelopmental disorders among youth with PSE (alcohol/drugs,  = 615) and matched unexposed controls ( = 1787). Hospital medical records and register data were merged and analysed using Cox regression models.

Oral health behavior during early childhood in children with major congenital heart defects.

Background: Good oral health in children with congenital heart defect (CHD) is important.

Aim: To assess oral health behavior during early childhood in children with CHD in comparison with children with no known systemic conditions and to explore parental oral health behavior associated with children's behavior.

Design: Seventy of all 89 children born in Finland between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2020, with (a) major CHD potentially included in the criteria of endocarditis prophylaxis or (b) any CHD with surgical repair combined with a chromosomal syndrome, and a comparison group of 87 children with no known systemic conditions were recruited.

Predictors of blood pressure and hypertension long-term after treatment of isolated coarctation of the aorta in children-a population-based study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess predictors of BP and hypertension and relations between BP and LV mass in a population-based retrospective study of repaired isolated coarctation of aorta.

Methods: We collected follow-up data until 2018 of 284/304 (93%) patients with coarctation treated by surgery (n = 235) or balloon angioplasty/stent (n = 37/12) in our unit 2000-2012. Systolic hypertension was defined as systolic BP (SBP) z-score ≥+2 standard deviation (SD) or regular use of BP medication.

Accuracy of fetal echocardiography diagnosis and anticipated perinatal and early postnatal care in congenital heart disease in mid-gestation.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine discrepancies in fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnoses and anticipated early postnatal care and outcomes.

Material And Methods: A retrospective review of 462 randomly selected cases (23% of all cases) referred to a fetal cardiac assessment during the second trimester (mean 26 weeks) at the Children's Hospital in Helsinki between October 2010 and December 2020. Discrepancy between prenatal and postnatal CHD case evaluations was assessed with independently provided cardiac severity and surgical complexity scores.

Ultra-high frequency ultrasound delineated changes in carotid and muscular artery intima-media and adventitia thickness in obese early middle-aged women.

Obesity is linked to increased arterial size, carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness. The effects of obesity and body composition on muscular artery intima-media and adventitia thickness has previously not been established. The aim of this study was to explore associations between carotid and muscular artery wall layer thickness with body composition and cardiovascular risk factors in early middle-aged women.

Parental perceptions and experiences of an oral health care promotion intervention for children with congenital heart defects.

Purpose: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital anomalies in children. Children with major CHD are at risk for developing endocarditis. Acute endocarditis may be life threatening and lead to heart failure.

Mood and neurotic disorders among youth with prenatal substance exposure: A longitudinal register-based cohort study.

Background: Prenatal substance exposure is associated with mood and neurotic disorders but this association is complex and understudied. This study investigated the recorded use of specialised healthcare services for mood and neurotic disorders among youth with prenatal substance exposure in comparison with an unexposed matched cohort. Furthermore, the influence of adverse maternal characteristics and out-of-home care (OHC) is investigated.

Childhood cardiovascular morphology and function following abnormal fetal growth.

Studies examining the link between abnormal fetal growth and cardiac changes in childhood have presented conflicting results. We studied the effect of abnormal fetal growth on cardiac morphology and function during childhood, while controlling for body size, composition and postnatal factors. We report on the follow-up of 90 children (median age 5.

Protocol: A randomized controlled trial to assess effectiveness of a 12-month lifestyle intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in families ten years after pre-eclampsia (FINNCARE).

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a multisystem progressive disorder affecting 3-5% of pregnancies. PE independently increases the risk for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in mothers and their children long-term. The effectiveness of a family-centered lifestyle intervention to lower CVD risk in PE families has not previously been evaluated.

Liver pathology and biochemistry in patients with mutations in TRIM37 gene (Mulibrey nanism).

Background And Aims: Mulibrey nanism (MUL) is a multiorgan disease caused by recessive mutations in the TRIM37 gene. Chronic heart failure and hepatopathy are major determinants of prognosis in MUL patients, which prompted us to study liver biochemistry and pathology in a national cohort of MUL patients.

Methods: Clinical, laboratory and imaging data were collected in a cross-sectional survey and retrospectively from hospital records.

Arterial health during early childhood following abnormal fetal growth.

Background: Abnormal fetal growth is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in adulthood. We investigated the effect of fetal programming on arterial health and morphology during early childhood.

Methods: We examined 90 children (median age 5.

Cardiac Function After Cardiotoxic Treatments for Childhood Cancer-Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain in Screening.

The majority of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) have been exposed to cardiotoxic treatments and often present with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Our aim was to evaluate the value of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain for increasing the sensitivity of cardiac dysfunction detection among CCSs. We combined two national cohorts: neuroblastoma and other childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines.

Ideal Cardiovascular Health and Vascular Phenotype Associations in Mothers with Obesity and Their Six-Year-Old Children.

Background: Heredity and family-shared lifestyle contribute to cardiovascular risk, but the magnitude of their influence on arterial structure and function in early childhood is unknown. We aimed to assess associations between child and maternal ideal cardiovascular health, maternal subclinical atherosclerosis, and child arterial phenotype.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 201 mother-child pairs originating from the Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL) longitudinal cohort was done at child age 6.

Motivational Interviewing and Glycemic Control in Adolescents With Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

A multicenter randomized controlled pilot trial investigated whether motivational interviewing (MI) by diabetes physicians improves glycemic control and variability in the context of follow-up for adolescent patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes. Patients ( = 47) aged 12 to 15.9 years who showed poor glycemic control (HbA1c >75 mmol/mol/9.

Dental caries prevalence in children with congenital heart disease - a systematic review.

Aim: Poor oral health is related with bacteraemia that may lead to endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to compare caries prevalence in children (<18 years of age) with CHD with healthy children.

Material And Methods: A literature search of studies from two online databases (Pubmed (MEDLINE) and Scopus) published from January 2000 to October 2019 using Medical subject heading terms Congenital Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Defect, and Caries was done, and manual search from the reference lists of selected publications.

Completed secondary education among youth with prenatal substance exposure: A longitudinal register-based matched cohort study.

Introduction: The dual impact of prenatal substance exposure (i.e. alcohol/drugs) and adverse postnatal caregiving environment on offspring secondary education completion is an understudied research area.

Cohort profile: ADEF Helsinki - a longitudinal register-based study on exposure to alcohol and drugs during foetal life.

Purpose: The need for longitudinal studies on prenatal substance exposure (PSE) extending into adulthood is widely recognised. In particular, studies on the dual effect of exposure to substances and adverse childhood experiences are needed. This register-based matched cohort study investigates the effect of this dual exposure on the health and development of youth with PSE.