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Epidemiology
Childhood adversities as predictors of incident coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease
  1. Jyrki Korkeila1,2,
  2. Jussi Vahtera3,4,5,
  3. Katariina Korkeila6,
  4. Mika Kivimäki7,
  5. Markku Sumanen8,
  6. Karoliina Koskenvuo9,
  7. Markku Koskenvuo10
  1. 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Finland
  2. 2Harjavalta Hospital, Satakunta Hospital District, Finland
  3. 3Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland
  4. 4Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
  5. 5Turku University Central Hospital, Finland
  6. 6Turku Municipal Health Care, Turku, Finland
  7. 7Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK
  8. 8University of Tampere, Medical School, Tampere, Finland
  9. 9Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
  10. 10Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
  1. Correspondence to Jyrki Korkeila, Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Kunnallissairaalantie 20, 20700 Turku, Finland; jyrki.korkeila{at}utu.fi

Abstract

Background Studies suggest that childhood adversities are important determinants of various types of later illnesses as well as poor health behaviour. However, few large-scale prospective studies have examined the associations between childhood adversities and cardiovascular disease.

Objective To investigate whether childhood adversities are associated with increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease

Design and setting Participants were 23 916 men and women in four age groups (20–24, 30–34, 40–44, and 50–54 years) from the Health and Social Support study, a longitudinal study on a random sample representative of the Finnish population. Data from national health registers on coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease during a mean follow-up of 6.9 years were linked to survey responses on childhood adversities. Cox proportional hazard models were adjusted for age group and potential mediators (education, health risk behaviours, diabetes and depression).

Results There was a significant linear trend between the number of childhood adversities and disease end points in women. The risk of incident cardiovascular disease was threefold among women exposed concurrently to three types of childhood adversities (financial difficulties, interpersonal conflicts and longstanding illness of a family member). Among men, increased risk was observed only among those with longstanding illness of a family member (HR=1.44; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.96).

Conclusions In this prospective population-based sample, childhood adversities were associated with a significantly increased risk of objectively verified cardiovascular disease, especially among women but to a lesser extent among men. More studies with prospective settings are needed to confirm the association and possible mechanisms.

  • Risk factors
  • epidemiology
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • psychosocial
  • psychology/psychiatry
  • coronary artery disease

https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2009.188250

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    Footnotes

    • Funding The Finnish Academy, the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation and the Heart Research Foundation, Finland.

    • Conflicts of interest None.

    • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the Turku University Central Hospital Ethics Committee.

    • Patient consent The subjects originated from a random population sample. Agreeing to participate in the study, the subjects filled-in an informed consent form.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.