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Abstract
Background. Early life experiences might have long-term effects on health.
Aim. To assess prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life among individuals exposed to traumatic separation in early childhood due to World War II.
Methods. Of the participants of the Helsinki Birth Cohort 1934–44 Study (n=2003), 320 had been evacuated abroad to temporary foster care in childhood. The remaining participants served as controls. The mean age at evacuation was 4.8 (SD=2.4) years and the mean duration of the evacuation was 1.7 (SD=1.0) years.
Results. Cardiovascular morbidity was higher among the former war evacuees (14.7% versus 7.9%; odds ratio (OR)=2.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4–2.9; P<0.001). A similar difference in prevalence of type 2 diabetes was observed (19.7% versus 14.8%; OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9, P=0.025). The former war evacuees were also more likely to be hypertensive (P<0.05). The effects on morbidity were not explained by age at testing or socio-economic circumstances in childhood or adulthood.
Conclusion. Early life traumatic events may extend lifelong effects on health. This study is among the first to show that early life trauma predicts higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in late adulthood, in a longitudinal clinical study setting.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the British Heart Foundation, the Academy of Finland, Finska Läkaresällskapet, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, and the Juho Vainio Foundation.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.