Adverse Childhood Experiences are Associated with Detrimental Hemodynamics and Elevated Circulating Endothelin-1 in Adolescents and Young Adults RR

Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Hypertension

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risks for coronary heart disease and hypertension in mid and late adulthood. We previously reported that early life stress induces a hyper-reactive endothelin (ET)-dependent cardiovascular phenotype in a rat model. In the present study, we evaluated whether exposure to ACEs is associated with greater peripheral resistance, arterial stiffness, blood pressure, or elevated circulating ET-1 levels in humans. In 221 healthy adolescents and young adults (mean age: 21; age range: 13–29), we found a graded association of ACE exposure with plasma ET-1 levels, of which on average 18% and 24% were higher in subjects with 1 ACE, and ≥2 ACEs compared to those with no ACEs (P=0.001). The subjects with moderate/severe exposure to ACEs (≥2 ACEs) had significantly higher total peripheral resistance index (+12%), diastolic blood pressure (+5%) and pulse wave velocity (+9%) compared with those who were not exposed. These associations were independent of age, race, gender, body mass index and childhood socioeconomic status. Our results indicate that early life stress promotes cardiovascular disease risk, specifically detrimental vascular and cardiac function, detectable in very young adulthood. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, long term effects, cardiovascular effects, physiological effects, research

Citation

Su, S., Wang, X., Kapuku, G. K., Treiber, F. A., Pollock, D. M., Harshfield, G. A., ... & Pollock, J. S. (2014). Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Associated With Detrimental Hemodynamics and Elevated Circulating Endothelin-1 in Adolescents and Young Adults Novelty and Significance. Hypertension, 64(1), 201-207.

DOI