Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
Authors' conclusion
In ACHD, ACEs appear common and were associated with higher odds of the composite outcome of heart failure, stroke, unplanned hospitalization, or emergency department visit due to heart condition, as well as worsened NYHA FC, and a lower quality of life score.
Study context
- Population
- Outpatients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD)respondents who provided complete data
- Participants
- 153 outpatients
- Exposure
- ACEs score (exposure) vs a binary composite outcome of self-reported heart failure, stroke, unplanned cardiac hospitalization, or emergency department visit for a cardiac cause; secondary: ACEs vs NYHA FC and QoL score
- Outcome
- ACEs burden
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean ACEs score
2.26 ± 2.4
Reported ≥4 ACEs
41
27%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Composite outcome (self-reported heart failure, stroke, unplanned cardiac hospitalization, or emergency department visit for a cardiac cause)Independently associated | odds 1.24 (95% CI 1.04–1.49) | P = 0.02 |
| Worsened NYHA FC | cumulative odds 1.19 (95% CI 1.03–1.37) | P = 0.02 |
| QoL scoreLower QoL score | difference 1.35 points (95% CI −2.58 to −0.11) | P = 0.03 |
- Composite outcome (self-reported heart failure, stroke, unplanned cardiac hospitalization, or emergency department visit for a cardiac cause) — Met the composite outcome
- Ninety-one (59%)
- Composite outcome (self-reported heart failure, stroke, unplanned cardiac hospitalization, or emergency department visit for a cardiac cause) — Mean ACEs among those who met the composite outcome
- 2.68 ± 2.5
ACHD complexity
- Moderate or complex ACHD
- Seventy-eight percent
Original publication
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: ACEs in ACHD. JACC Adv. Published 15 May 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it