Skip to main content

Risky Family Environmental Factors Linked to Adult Heart Health

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 30, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 30, 2024 -- Risky family environmental factors in childhood are associated with increased odds of poor longitudinal adult cardiovascular health (CVH), according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Robin Ortiz, M.D., from New York University in New York City, and colleagues quantified the association between childhood family environment and longitudinal CVH in 2,074 adults from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study. At years 0, 7, and 20 of the study, CVH scores (range, 0 to 14) were calculated. At year 15, risky family environment (range, 7 to 28) was assessed retrospectively for childhood experiences of abuse, caregiver warmth, and family or household challenges.

The researchers found that the median risky family environment score was 10; 28.4 and 16.3 percent of individuals met ideal CVH (≥12) at baseline and at year 20, respectively. For each one-unit greater risky family environment, the odds of attaining high CVH (≥10) decreased longitudinally (odds ratio, 0.9645). The odds of ideal CVH decreased with each unit greater child abuse score and increased with each unit greater caregiver warmth score across all 20 years of follow-up. Associations between risky family environment and CVH remained significant for those with the highest but not the lowest adult income (>$74,000 and <$35,000, respectively).

"As we look at primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease, healthy and stable childhood relationships and life-long economic equity may play a crucial role in the equitable opportunity for all to attain cardiovascular health across the life course," Ortiz said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text

Editorial

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Semaglutide Boosts Kidney Outcomes With Obesity + Cardiovascular Disease

TUESDAY, May 28, 2024 -- Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide shows a benefit for kidney outcomes in people with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease...

Statins Reduce CVD Risk in Adults Aged 75 to 85 and 85 Years and Older

TUESDAY, May 28, 2024 -- For patients aged 75 years and older, statin therapy is associated with a risk reduction in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), according to a study published...

Fish Oil Beneficial for Reducing Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Progression

WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 -- The role of regular use of fish oil supplements varies for people with and without cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online May 21...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.