Measuring early vascular aging in youth: an expert consensus document from the Youth Vascular Consortium

Since the conceptualization of early vascular aging (EVA) in 2008, significant efforts have been made to develop and improve its assessment. Initially lead by the investigation of arterial stiffness through pulse wave velocity (PWV), several additional vascular aging biomarkers have gained prominence in recent years. Despite expanding literature addressing methodological concerns associated with these biomarkers in youth, a standardized approach for clinical evaluation of EVA remains elusive, leaving pertinent gaps in understanding the optimal methodology. This article, resulting from international consensus efforts from the Youth Vascular Consortium, aims to provide an updated overview of methods available to measure EVA in youth and to discuss challenges in translating these methods into clinical practice.