TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical and sexual abuse in childhood as predictors of early-onset cardiovascular events in women
AU - Rich-Edwards, Janet W.
AU - Mason, Susan
AU - Rexrode, Kathryn
AU - Spiegelman, Donna
AU - Hibert, Eileen
AU - Kawachi, Ichiro
AU - Jun, Hee Jin
AU - Wright, Rosalind J.
PY - 2012/8/21
Y1 - 2012/8/21
N2 - Background-Although child abuse is widespread and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, its association with CVD events is not established. Methods and Results-We examined associations of child abuse with CVD events among 66 798 women in the Nurses Health Study 2. Proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for myocardial infarction (n=262), stroke (n=251), and total CVD (n=513). Severe physical abuse was reported by 9% and forced sex by 11% of participants. After adjustment for age, race, childhood body type, parental education, and family CVD history, the hazard ratios for CVD events were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.70-1.17) for mild physical abuse, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.82-1.26) for moderate physical abuse, and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.11-1.92) for severe physical abuse compared with no abuse. Compared with women without childhood sexual abuse, the hazard ratio was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.88-1.35) for unwanted sexual touching and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.23-1.99) for forced sex. After adjustment for adult lifestyle and medical risk factors, the hazard ratio for severe physical abuse was 1.13 (95% CI, 0.85-1.51) and that for forced sex was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.98-1.60); these intermediates accounted for much of the association of severe child abuse with CVD. Associations were similar for retrospectively and prospectively reported events. Women with abuse were less likely to release medical records. The associations were stronger for unconfirmed self-reported events than end points that were corroborated with additional information or medical record review. Conclusion-Severe child abuse is a prevalent risk for early adult CVD that is partially mediated by preventable risk factors. [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-].
AB - Background-Although child abuse is widespread and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, its association with CVD events is not established. Methods and Results-We examined associations of child abuse with CVD events among 66 798 women in the Nurses Health Study 2. Proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for myocardial infarction (n=262), stroke (n=251), and total CVD (n=513). Severe physical abuse was reported by 9% and forced sex by 11% of participants. After adjustment for age, race, childhood body type, parental education, and family CVD history, the hazard ratios for CVD events were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.70-1.17) for mild physical abuse, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.82-1.26) for moderate physical abuse, and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.11-1.92) for severe physical abuse compared with no abuse. Compared with women without childhood sexual abuse, the hazard ratio was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.88-1.35) for unwanted sexual touching and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.23-1.99) for forced sex. After adjustment for adult lifestyle and medical risk factors, the hazard ratio for severe physical abuse was 1.13 (95% CI, 0.85-1.51) and that for forced sex was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.98-1.60); these intermediates accounted for much of the association of severe child abuse with CVD. Associations were similar for retrospectively and prospectively reported events. Women with abuse were less likely to release medical records. The associations were stronger for unconfirmed self-reported events than end points that were corroborated with additional information or medical record review. Conclusion-Severe child abuse is a prevalent risk for early adult CVD that is partially mediated by preventable risk factors. [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-] [-].
KW - epidemiology
KW - myocardial infarction
KW - stroke
KW - violence
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84865276068&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84865276068&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.076877
DO - 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.076877
M3 - Article
C2 - 22787111
AN - SCOPUS:84865276068
SN - 0009-7322
VL - 126
SP - 920
EP - 927
JO - Circulation
JF - Circulation
IS - 8
ER -