Childhood deportation-induced PTSD was strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease compared to controls without PTSD (71.3% vs 44.3%; OR 3.80; 95% CI 1.62-8.94; P=0.002).
Case-Control (n=150)
Does PTSD resulting from childhood trauma increase cardiovascular risk and arterial stiffness in advanced age?
Childhood trauma resulting in PTSD is associated with significantly increased cardiovascular risk, higher prevalence of coronary artery disease, and increased arterial stiffness in advanced age.
Effect estimate: OR 3.80 (95% CI 1.62-8.94)
Absolute Event Rate: 71.3% vs 44.3%
p-value: p=0.002
AIMS: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to particularly traumatic events. Its severity depends on the nature and intensity of the stressor and susceptibility of the exposed person. The present study was carried out to find out whether PTSD and its severity, resulting from deportation to Siberia in the patients' childhood (from 1940 to 1946), have any association on the somatic health status and cardiovascular risk of these persons in advanced age. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty patients with PTSD and 70 subjects without PTSD followed up in primary care setting were enrolled in the study. Post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria; severity of the symptoms included in the criteria was also assessed. All patients were subject to a standardized interview including demographic data and current and past diseases, supplemented with physical examination, biochemical tests, and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). The group of patients with PTSD resulting from deportation to Siberia in their childhood had higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (71.3 vs. 44.3%, P 140/90 (86.0 vs. 65.7%, P = 0.003), fasting blood glucose >5.6 mmol/L (65.0 vs. 45.7%, P = 0.018), HDL level 2.3 mmol/L (62.5 vs. 321.4%, P = 0.001). Patients with PTSD had higher PWV (13.7 vs. 12.9 m/s, P= 0.042). The magnitude of PWV increased with the severity of PTSD (P = 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression has shown that PTSD was a strong factor promoting the appearance of coronary heart disease in the former deportees group (OR 3.80; 95% CI: 1.62-8.94; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Several-year long deportation in childhood and PTSD elevated overall cardiovascular risk in the group of former deportees compared with the group of persons without history of such a traumatic experience.
Walczewska et al. (Fri,) conducted a case-control in Post-traumatic stress disorder (n=150). Post-traumatic stress disorder (exposure) vs. Subjects without PTSD was evaluated on Coronary heart disease (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.62-8.94, p=0.002). Childhood deportation-induced PTSD was strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease compared to controls without PTSD (71.3% vs 44.3%; OR 3.80; 95% CI 1.62-8.94; P=0.002).