The effect of parental smoking on early atherosclerotic changes in paediatric age group

Abstract Background and aims: This study aimed to evaluate the independent effect of parental smoking on early markers of atherosclerosis in children, specifically carotid intima-media thickness and epicardial adipose tissue thickness. Methods: A total of 106 healthy children aged 6–16 years were enrolled, including 53 with parental smoking exposure and 53 unexposed controls. Participants underwent clinical evaluation, laboratory assessment, transthoracic echocardiography, and carotid ultrasonography. Data on parental smoking habits, sociodemographic characteristics, and children’s daily sleep duration were collected. Multivariable analyses were performed to assess the independent association between parental smoking and subclinical atherosclerotic markers. Results: Children exposed to parental smoking demonstrated significantly greater epicardial adipose tissue thickness and carotid intima-media thickness compared with controls ( p = 0.014 and p = 0.001, respectively). Lipid parameters did not differ significantly between groups. Daily sleep duration was negatively correlated with epicardial adipose tissue thickness ( r = –0.325, p = 0.018) and carotid intima-media thickness ( r = –0.484, p < 0.001). Parental smoking remained independently associated with both markers after adjustment for relevant covariates. Conclusions: Parental smoking is associated with early atherosclerotic changes in children, demonstrated by increased carotid intima-media thickness and epicardial adipose tissue thickness, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.