Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025
Assessment of Perigenital Sensitivity and Prostatic Mast Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Maternal Separation
Published on: August 13, 2015
Twenty-year Outcomes of a Pediatric Chronic Abdominal Pain Cohort: Early Adulthood Health Status and Offspring
Amanda L Stone1, Isabel Epstein2, Stephen Bruehl3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Insights
Pediatric chronic abdominal pain (CAP) can persist into adulthood, impacting quality of life and leading to increased health anxiety. Affected individuals also showed more emotional problems in their children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Pain Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is a common pediatric disorder with potential lifelong consequences.
- Longitudinal data on pediatric CAP into adulthood is limited.
- Understanding intergenerational impacts of pediatric CAP is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate long-term health outcomes in adults with a history of pediatric CAP.
- To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health in the CAP cohort.
- To examine the health of offspring from parents with a history of pediatric CAP.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cohort study with assessments in childhood (T1), emerging adulthood (T2), and early adulthood (T3).
- Participants (n=90 CAP, n=55 Control) completed health, HRQoL, and offspring health measures at T3.
- Analysis compared outcomes between CAP and Control groups, and across pain status (current vs. remitted CAP).
Main Results:
- Nearly 20% of the CAP cohort experienced recurrent pain across all three time points.
- Current CAP and remitted CAP groups reported poorer HRQoL than controls.
- The CAP cohort exhibited higher health-related anxiety and their children showed more emotional problems.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric chronic abdominal pain has lasting effects into adulthood, including poorer HRQoL and heightened health anxiety.
- Parental history of pediatric CAP is associated with increased emotional difficulties in offspring.
- Further research is needed on the developmental trajectory and intergenerational risk/resilience in pediatric chronic pain.
Abstract:
Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) represents a common pediatric primary pain disorder that can have long-term effects on physical and mental health into adulthood. Pediatric CAP and Control cohorts recruited in childhood (∼11 years old, T1) and then assessed in emerging adulthood (∼20 years old, T2) were evaluated again for health outcomes in early adulthood (∼30 years old, T3) for the current study. Further, the study evaluated the mental and physical health of offspring of participants who had become parents. Participants who agreed to enroll at T3 (CAP: n = 90, Control: n = 55) completed measures regarding current health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and their child's health when applicable. Results indicated close to 20% of the CAP cohort reported recurrent CAP across all 3 timepoints. Participants with current CAP reported poorer HRQoL compared to participants with remitted CAP who reported poorer HRQoL compared to Control participants. The CAP cohort reported higher health-related anxiety compared to the Control cohort regardless of current pain status. CAP compared to Control participants reported greater emotional problems and fewer conduct problems in their children. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the developmental course of pediatric chronic pain and intergenerational pathways of risk and resilience. Perspective: This article evaluates patterns of chronic abdominal pain from childhood into early adulthood. Patients with pediatric chronic abdominal pain continue to present with health-related anxiety in adulthood and report greater emotional problems in offspring.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
01:26Longitudinal Studies
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and...