Relationship Between Cumulative Adverse Childhood Experiences and Myocardial Infarction in Adulthood: a Systematic...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Psychology

Background:

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to various negative health outcomes.
• The specific relationship between cumulative ACEs and myocardial infarction (MI) requires further elucidation.
• Understanding confounding factors is crucial for assessing the ACEs-MI association.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the relationship between cumulative ACEs and adult MI.
• To investigate the influence of sociodemographic, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and psychological factors on this association.
• To explore potential moderators of the ACEs-MI link.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of major scientific databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, ProQuest).
• Random effects meta-analysis to pool odds ratios (ORs) from 10 eligible studies.
• Stratified analyses and moderator examination (age, gender, race/ethnicity, study quality).

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between cumulative ACEs and MI (pooled ORs ranging from 1.78 to 2.09).
• The association remained significant after adjusting for CVD risk factors and psychological factors.
• Effect sizes were larger in studies with older participants (over 55 years).

Conclusions:

• Cumulative ACEs are associated with an increased risk of developing MI later in life.
• The ACEs-MI link is robust, even when accounting for common confounding variables.
• Further prospective research is needed to identify moderators influencing this relationship.