Childhood and Adolescent Adversity and Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes

Published: December 18, 2017

diverse mixed racial group of children on fence in park
  • Substantial evidence links childhood adversity to cardiometabolic disease later in the life-course, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and stroke, which are three of the top ten causes of mortality in the U.S.
  • Three pathways are commonly identified to explain how childhood adversity may increase risk of cardiometabolic (as well as other) diseases. These included behavioral, mental health, and biological.
  • This AHA Scientific Statement reviews the scientific literature regarding the influence of childhood and adolescent adversity on cardiometabolic health outcomes, including obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.