Physical and sexual abuse in childhood as predictors of early-onset cardiovascular events in women.
BACKGROUND
Although child abuse is widespread and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, its association with CVD events is not established.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe child abuse is a prevalent risk for early adult CVD that is partially mediated by preventable risk factors.
Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02120, USA. jr33@partners.org
Janet W
JW
Rich-Edwards
Susan
S
Mason
Kathryn
K
Rexrode
Donna
D
Spiegelman
Eileen
E
Hibert
Ichiro
I
Kawachi
Hee Jin
HJ
Jun
Rosalind J
RJ
Wright
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices