Adults who underwent adversity in their childhood faced a significantly higher risk of COVID-19-related death or hospitalization, according to our recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Examining 150,000 adults in the United Kingdom, the study revealed that those reporting greater childhood trauma had a 25% increased likelihood of COVID-19-related death and a 22% higher rate of hospitalization post-infection. These findings remained consistent even after adjusting for demographics and health conditions.
Childhood trauma, encompassing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and “toxic stress,” was considered in the study.
Leveraging data from the UK Biobank, a vast biomedical database with over 500,000 volunteers aged 40 to 69 in the UK, our team explored the childhood information provided by nearly one-third of the volunteers. We then cross-referenced this data with medical records to identify participants who died or were hospitalized due to COVID-19. While further research is necessary, these initial results underscore the enduring impact of childhood stress and emphasize the importance of early psychological support to mitigate lifelong health risks.
Why it Matters
With COVID-19 claiming the lives of nearly 7 million people worldwide by November 2023, understanding all factors contributing to pandemic-related hospitalization and death becomes crucial.
While prior research has delved into demographic risk factors like age, race, ethnicity, income, and education, this study is groundbreaking in establishing a link between childhood experiences and adult COVID-19 outcomes.
The study’s significant findings propose the inclusion of early childhood trauma among the risk factors for various illnesses, not just limited to COVID-19. Furthermore, it highlights the vulnerability of communities facing adversity and trauma, particularly those exposed to high levels of neighborhood violence, stress, and poverty.
What’s Next
Our team is committed to advancing our research by conducting additional large-scale population studies, each involving a substantial participant pool of at least 30,000 to 50,000 individuals. The aim is to explore whether adverse childhood experiences extend their impact to other health outcomes, including potential connections to long COVID.
As we delve deeper into understanding how childhood trauma becomes ingrained in the body, our research strives to shed light on possible interventions and long-term health consequences. This knowledge could be particularly relevant to conditions potentially associated with COVID-19.
Stay tuned for further insights as our ongoing research endeavors seek to unravel the intricate relationship between childhood experiences and health outcomes.
This article is a concise overview of our academic work and is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing factual and reliable analysis to help navigate our intricate world.
