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Brief Report: Physical Activity, Body Mass Index and Arterial Stiffness in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Findings

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Abstract

We examined the association between physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI) and novel measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 15 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (mean age 7 ± 2 years, 2 girls). PA was objectively assessed using accelerometry as time spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Arterial stiffness was measured via aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and taken as a marker of subclinical CVD risk. MVPA was inversely associated with aortic PWV (r = − 0.46, p < 0.05). BMI percentile was positively associated with aortic PWV (r = 0.61, p < 0.05). Overall findings suggest that reduced PA and higher body mass in children with ASD are associated with increased arterial stiffness which may have a detrimental impact on overall cardiovascular health.

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Acknowledgments

Support for this study provided by the Jim and Julie Boeheim Foundation and the John P. Hussman Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise Science, Human Performance Laboratory, Syracuse University, 820 Comstock Ave, Room 201, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA

    Kevin S. Heffernan

  2. Department of Exercise Science, Physical Education, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Luis Columna & Michael L. Norris

  3. Department of Psychology, Center for Autism and Electrophysiology Laboratory, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Natalie Russo

  4. Department of Teaching and Leadership, Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Beth A. Myers

  5. Department of Teaching and Leadership, Institute on Communication and Inclusion, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Christine E. Ashby

  6. Department of Exercise Science, Human Behavior Measurement Laboratory, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Tiago V. Barreira

Authors
  1. Kevin S. Heffernan
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  2. Luis Columna
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  3. Natalie Russo
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  4. Beth A. Myers
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  5. Christine E. Ashby
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  6. Michael L. Norris
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  7. Tiago V. Barreira
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Contributions

All authors were involved with study conceptualization, study design, study analyses, data interpretation and manuscript preparation. KSH oversaw all cardiovascular data acquisition and interpreted all cardiovascular results. TVB oversaw measurement of height, weight, and physical activity. TVB also analyzed all physical activity data and interpreted all results. NR oversaw all behavioral assessments and interpretations. LC, BAM and CEA assisted with participant recruitment. MLN assisted with study visit organization and data collection.

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Correspondence to Kevin S. Heffernan.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants (guardians) included in the study.

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Heffernan, K.S., Columna, L., Russo, N. et al. Brief Report: Physical Activity, Body Mass Index and Arterial Stiffness in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Findings. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 625–631 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3358-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3358-z

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