Self Reported Childhood Difficulties, Adult Multimorbidity and Allostatic Load. A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Norwegian HUNT Study
Background: Multimorbidity receives increasing scientific attention. So does the detrimental health impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Aetiological pathways from ACE to complex disease burdens are under investigation. In this context, the concept of allostatic overload is relevant, denot...
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Zusammenfassung: | Background:
Multimorbidity receives increasing scientific attention. So does the detrimental health
impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Aetiological pathways from ACE to complex
disease burdens are under investigation. In this context, the concept of allostatic overload
is relevant, denoting the link between chronic detrimental stress, widespread biological
perturbations and disease development. This study aimed to explore associations between
self-reported childhood quality, biological perturbations and multimorbidity in adulthood.
Materials and Methods:
We included 37 612 participants, 30–69 years, from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study,
HUNT3 (2006–8). Twenty one chronic diseases, twelve biological parameters associated
with allostatic load and four behavioural factors were analysed. Participants were categorised
according to the self-reported quality of their childhood, as reflected in one question,
alternatives ranging from ‘very good’ to ‘very difficult’. The association between childhood
quality, behavioural patterns, allostatic load and multimorbidity was compared between
groups.
Results:
Overall, 85.4%of participants reported a ‘good’ or ‘very good’ childhood; 10.6% average,
3.3% ‘difficult’ and 0.8% ‘very difficult’. Childhood difficulties were reported more often
among women, smokers, individuals with sleep problems, less physical activity and lower education. In total, 44.8%of participants with a very good childhood had multimorbidity
compared to 77.1%of those with a very difficult childhood (Odds ratio: 5.08; 95% CI: 3.63–
7.11). Prevalences of individual diseases also differed significantly according to childhood
quality; all but two (cancer and hypertension) showed a significantly higher prevalence
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