Adverse childhood experiences and cancer diagnosis - ONLINE

Website/URL: https://apha.confex.com/apha/1...apt/Paper278347.html

Organized By: American Public Health Association

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BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to multiple adverse health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between ACEs and cancer diagnosis.

METHODS: Data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey were used. The BRFSS is the largest ongoing telephone health survey, conducted in all US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and provides data on a variety of health issues among the non-institutionalized adult population. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to provide adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between ACEs and cancer, adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, educational status, marital status, and insurance status.

RESULTS: Respondents who reported 2 ACEs were 71% more likely to have a diagnosis of cancer compared to respondents who did not report ACEs (adjusted OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.08 – 2.70). However, respondents who reported 1 or ≥3 non-abusive ACEs were 53% and 76% more likely, respectively, to have a diagnosis of cancer compared to respondents who did not report non-abusive ACEs (adjusted OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.07 – 2.20; adjusted OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.13-2.74).

CONCLUSION: The association between ACEs and cancer maybe attributable to mechanisms in which stressors and trauma during childhood negatively affect health. More research should focus on the impact of non-abusive ACEs and adverse health outcomes.