Young Adults and Adverse Childhood Events: A Potent Measure of Cardiovascular Risk

While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, its determinants include unhealthy behaviors and clinical risk factors and are recognized as the “actual causes” of death. Risk likely accumulates over the life course, and adverse childhood experiences may increase the risk of “actual causes” of death. The objectives of the study are to determine the prevalence and test the association of adverse childhood experiences among unhealthy behaviors and risk factors as a primordial risk factor among young adults.