308 - The Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Cardiometabolic Health, and Positive Affect in Adolescents

Poster Number: 308
Publication Number: 308.2187

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that children and adolescents experience during their upbringing. Generally, ACEs have been broken down into three broad categories: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Children and adolescents who have a higher number of ACEs are also more likely to have worse cardiometabolic health outcomes when they reach adulthood. While there has been extensive literature that examines the relationship between ACEs and adult cardiometabolic health, the relationship between ACEs and adolescent cardiometabolic health has not been as thoroughly investigated. Further, the relationship between positive affect, a known factor for resilience and recovery has largely been ignored in this developmentally vulnerable population.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between ACEs, cardiometabolic health, and positive affect in adolescents.

Design/Methods: We conducted an online survey of Chicago-based adolescents (N=92) aged 13-19 on their self-reported ACEs and health behaviors. Participants were identified through 3 pediatric hospital-based clinics and recruited via phone calls, postcards, and emails. ACEs were measured using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire. We paired their survey records with their electronic health records using an honest broker and analyzed the de-identified data. We implemented a median split to determine the thresholds for ACEs (high>7, low≤7) and used multivariable linear and logistic regression, as appropriate.

Results: Older adolescents (p=0.02), BIPOC (p=0.007), Hispanic/Latinx (p=0.03), identifying as male or transgender (p=0.05), and belonging to the LGBTIA community (p=0.11) were more likely to have higher ACE scores. Adolescents with higher ACE scores reported eating less home-cooked meals (p=0.07), more sedentary (p =0.06) activity, lower quality of sleep (p=0.003), and lower positive affect (0.002). However, ACE scores were not correlated with CMH conditions found in their EHR such as elevated hemoglobin A1c, BMI, or systolic, and diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion(s): In conclusion, the influence of ACEs on cardiometabolic health conditions during adolescence still requires more investigation. However, there may be actionable intervention targets, such as diet, sleep, and positive affect that may mitigate the influences of ACEs on cardiometabolic health throughout the life course.