Childhood Adversity Linked to COVID-19 Hospitalization and Mortality

A study published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health uncovered a compelling association between childhood adversity and COVID-19-related hospitalization and mortality. 

The study encompassed a whopping 151,200 participants from the UK Biobank cohort who had completed the Childhood Trauma Screen. These individuals were alive at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 and remained active in the UK Biobank through November 2021, when hospitalization and mortality data were most recently updated.

The findings were striking: participants reporting higher levels of childhood adversity faced an increased risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization. In statistical models adjusted for age, ethnicity, and sex, childhood adversity was associated with a notable odds ratio (OR) of 1.227 for hospitalization. This means that those who had experienced childhood adversity were approximately 22.7% more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Even more concerning, childhood adversity was also linked to COVID-19-related mortality. In the same adjusted models, the OR for a COVID-19-related death was 1.25, signifying a 25% increased risk for those with a history of childhood adversity.

While it's important to consider potential confounding factors, such as socio-demographic and health-related variables, these associations persisted even after such adjustments, remaining statistically significant.

These findings suggest that childhood adversity may be a previously underestimated risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Further research is now needed to dive into the biological and psychosocial mechanisms behind these connections. Understanding these mechanisms will be crucial for designing effective public health interventions and prevention strategies aimed at reducing COVID-19 disparities.

This study underscores the importance of considering a person's entire life course, including early experiences, when assessing their vulnerability to health risks like COVID-19. The hope is that this research will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors at play and ultimately contribute to the development of strategies to minimize disparities in COVID-19 outcomes

Source:

Hanson, J. L., O’Connor, K., Adkins, D. J., & Kahhale, I. (2023). Childhood adversity and COVID-19 outcomes in the UK Biobank. In Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (p. jech-2023-221147). BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2023-221147