# Vascular Health and Risk Factors in Children with Down Syndrome

> **NIH NIH KL2** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2020 · $182,256

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Background: The risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases associated with aging is increasing as individuals with
Down syndrome (DS) are living longer. CV disease risk factors diagnosed in children track into adulthood and
cause dementia and heart attacks. Because many CV disease risk factors are modifiable, however, early
treatment may delay or prevent adult disease. Subclinical changes in vascular health can be measured using
vascular studies, including pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT), and carotid
distensibility (CD). Each measure has been associated with future risk of vascular disease. Data in adults with
DS show CV disease risk factor profiles and vascular study results differ compared to results from individuals
without DS. In children with DS, CV disease risk factor data are limited with few studies evaluating the impact
of CV disease risk factors on vascular health. We aim to determine the prevalence of CV disease risk factors in
children with DS and evaluate their effect on vascular markers of early atherosclerosis.
Research Design and Methods: We propose a cross-sectional evaluation of CV disease risk factors and their
impact on vascular health in children with DS to be performed at 3 centers within the Pediatric Heart Network
(PHN). Specific Aim 1: Evaluate CV disease risk factors in children with DS. We will describe common CV
disease risk factors in children with DS including anthropometric measures, clinical risk factors (diet; activity;
smoke exposure; hypertension; history of congenital heart disease, sleep apnea, cancer; and family history of
early CV disease), and serologic risk factors (fasting lipid profiles with sub-fractionation, insulin, glucose,
hemoglobin AIc, and CRP) in children with DS. We will compare these data to published national norms of
children without DS. Specific Aim 2: Determine the associations between CV disease risk factors and markers
of early atherosclerosis in children with DS. We will perform PWV, CIMT, and CD studies in children with DS
and compare these data to available data in children without DS. We will use findings from Specific Aim 1 to
perform multivariable analysis to determine the influence of combinations of vascular disease risk factors
unique to children with DS on their vascular studies.
Career Development Plan: The KL2 Career Development Award will address these gaps in my current
research abilities: 1) improve my understanding and ability to evaluate CV risk factors, prediction models, and
outcome measures including those used in interventional trials; 2) ability to perform and interpret advanced
vascular imaging studies; 3) develop the expertise in study design, statistics, epidemiology, and research
leadership needed to conduct CV studies in children with DS. These weaknesses will be addressed using the
resources provided by the University of Utah's robust KL2 program and through recommended courses and
hands-on training as well as interaction...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10117908
- **Project number:** 3KL2TR002539-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** MAUREEN A MURTAUGH
- **Activity code:** KL2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $182,256
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-15 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10117908

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10117908, Vascular Health and Risk Factors in Children with Down Syndrome (3KL2TR002539-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10117908. Licensed CC0.

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