The Association Between Childhood Adversity and the Development of Cardiovascular Conditions in Adulthood: A Scoping Review

Open Access
- Author:
- Siqueira De Novaes Franco, Laura Elena
- Area of Honors:
- Nursing
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Solim Lee, Thesis Supervisor
Cara L Exten, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- childhood adversity
childhood maltreatment
cardiovascular disease
socio-ecologic model - Abstract:
- Background. Chronic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. It is known that adversity during childhood may lead to lifelong health conditions. However, the influence of childhood adversity experiences on cardiovascular health outcomes is understudied. Purpose. To explore associations between past experiences of childhood adversity and the development of cardiovascular conditions in adulthood. Methods. Eleven peer-reviewed journal articles, written in English, published in the last decade, and based on studies conducted in the United States, were selected from searches across three electronic databases. Results. The findings highlight a notable association between childhood adversity and cardiovascular disease diagnoses in adults. Exposure to childhood adversity was associated with elevated prevalence and mortality rates of cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, this association was identified in coronary heart diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction), hypertension, and stroke. Examining the association between childhood adversity and the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood through a socio-ecological model highlighted several influential factors. These factors include sex and age differences, unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking), and household dysfunction, air pollution exposure, and neighborhood deprivation. Conclusion. Childhood adversity significantly influences cardiovascular health outcomes in adults. Targeted interventions are needed to raise awareness of the impact of childhood adversity on the development of CVD in adulthood, as well as the factors influencing this relationship. This awareness is crucial for adults who have experienced childhood adversity but have not yet developed CVD, empowering them to seek professional support.