Long-term impact of paediatric critical illness on the difference between epigenetic and chronological age in relation to physical growth.

Ines VerlindenGrégoire CoppensIlse VanhorebeekFabian GüizaInge DeresePieter J WoutersKoen F JoostenSascha C VerbruggenGreet Van den Berghe

Published in: Clinical epigenetics (2023)

As compared with healthy children, former PICU-patients, in particular those aged ≥ 6-years at time of illness, revealed epigenetic age-deceleration, with a physical correlate revealing stunted growth in height. Whether this vulnerability around the age of 6 years for epigenetic age-deceleration and stunted growth years later relates to altered endocrine pathways activated at the time of adrenarche requires further investigation.

Keyphrases

dna methylation
gene expression
mental health
end stage renal disease
newly diagnosed
ejection fraction
body mass index
intensive care unit
climate change
single cell
patient reported