The Association Between Sexual and Physical Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) Multimorbidity

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known risk factors for adverse mental and physical health outcomes. However, limited research has explored the association specifically between childhood physical and sexual abuse and cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) multimorbidity.

Aim: This study aimed to examine this association, while accounting for sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors.

Methods: Based on BRFSS 2023, a large dataset collected in the US, unadjusted and adjusted weighted logistic regression models were employed to estimate the adjusted odds of CRM multimorbidity associated with childhood physical and sexual abuse.

Results: Individuals with a history of childhood physical abuse had 21% higher odds of experiencing CRM multimorbidity compared to those without such exposure (Adjusted OR = 1.21; 95% CI OR: 1.09–1.34; p-value < 0.001). Similarly, individuals who reported childhood sexual abuse had a 25% increased likelihood of CRM multimorbidity compared to those without such histories (Adjusted OR = 1.25; 95% CI OR: 1.07–1.45; p-value = 0.004). Childhood physical and sexual abuse contribute to the development of CRM multimorbidity through interconnected sociodemographic, behavioral and biological pathways.

Conclusion: The findings emphasize the long-term health consequences of childhood physical and sexual abuse and support the need for early intervention, trauma-informed care, and prevention policies. They underscore the value of adopting a ‘whole person health’ approach in clinical practice and the incorporation of routine screening for ACEs during primary care visits, especially for adolescents and young adults to identify individuals with high risk of adulthood CRM multimorbidity.