A research team led by Professor Song Yan from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (ZZU) has identified a significant link between adverse life experiences and the risk of developing cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) multimorbidity in middle and old age. The study reveals that psychological adversity experienced in childhood or adulthood can have lasting negative effects on long-term health.
Chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease are major global health challenges, yet the factors contributing to their co-occurrence are not fully understood. This research systematically examined how adverse life events (ALEs) across the lifespan influence the development of CKM multimorbidity.
Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) involving over 6,200 adults aged 45 and above, the team analyzed the impact of ALEs — covering events from childhood violence to adult financial strain. Results showed that individuals who experienced ALEs in both childhood and adulthood were 81 percent more likely to develop CKM multimorbidity compared to those with no such experiences. Each additional adverse event further elevated the risk, with psychological health acting as a partial mediator in this relationship.
The findings underscore the long-term health consequences of early-life stress and highlight the importance of early psychological support and stable living environments in chronic disease prevention. Interventions aimed at reducing adversity and promoting mental well-being could help lower the risk of multiple chronic conditions later in life.
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study contributes to a growing body of evidence on life-course influences on chronic disease.
ZZU study links early-life adversity to increased risk of chronic multimorbidity. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]