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Published on: August 7, 2017
Adverse childhood experience and asthma onset: a systematic review
Daniel Exley1, Alyson Norman2, Michael Hyland1
1School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to increased asthma risk, particularly when combined with environmental factors like air pollution. Early life stress may also independently elevate the likelihood of developing asthma.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to immune system dysregulation.
- Existing research shows mixed results on the association between ACEs and asthma onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review prospective studies examining the relationship between ACEs and asthma.
- To synthesize evidence on how early life stress influences asthma development.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across four electronic databases.
- Inclusion criteria applied to select relevant prospective studies.
- Data extraction from 12 identified studies involving 31,524 individuals.
Main Results:
- Chronic early life stress and maternal distress during pregnancy synergize with air pollution to heighten asthma risk.
- Evidence suggests ACEs amplify the impact of traffic-related air pollution on asthma.
- Inconsistent findings exist regarding ACEs' independent effect on asthma onset.
Conclusions:
- Early life stress is a significant factor in asthma development.
- ACEs interact with environmental triggers, increasing asthma susceptibility.
- Further research is needed to clarify the independent role of ACEs in asthma.
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