Effect of Early Life Trauma Exposure on Vascular Dysfunction in Black Men and Women

Psychosocial stressors such as childhood trauma have been associated with an increased risk of hypertension. The impact of childhood trauma on vascular dysfunction in Black adults remains less clear. We examined the association between childhood trauma and vascular function in Black adults.

Childhood trauma exposure and vascular function were assessed in a cohort of healthy Black participants without known cardiovascular disease (n=404) from a large metropolitan city. Childhood trauma was assessed using the Early Trauma Inventory Short Form with higher scores indicative of higher traumatic life events assessed before age 18 years. Outcomes of central augmentation index (CAIx) and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity were measured as indices of wave reflections and arterial stiffness using applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor Inc.), and central pulse pressure (CPP) was calculated as the difference between the central aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Relationships between Early Trauma Inventory Short Form and outcomes were assessed using multivariate-adjusted and sex-stratified linear regression models. The mean age of the cohort was 53 (SD=10.3), 61% women. Cumulative childhood trauma was not associated with CAIx, central pulse pressure, or carotid femoral pulse wave velocity in the minimal or fully adjusted models for sociodemographic, sex, clinical factors, medical history, health behaviors, and depression. Significant trauma × sex interactions were identified for CAIx (P=0.003) and central pulse pressure (P=0.025). Childhood trauma was associated with lower CAIx (β=-0.55% [95% CI, -1.07 to -0.03] in men, but higher CAIx (β=0.35% [95% CI, 0.08-0.63]) and central pulse pressure (β=0.23 mm Hg [95% CI, 0.01-0.43]) in women.

Childhood trauma is independently associated with impaired arterial compliance in Black women.