Less than ideal cardiovascular health among adults is associated with experiencing adverse childhood events: BRFSS 2019

Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) is associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke while adverse childhood events (ACEs) are related to health behaviors (e.g., smoking, unhealthy diet) and conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) associated with CVH. Data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to explore ACEs and CVH among 86,584 adults ≥18 years from 20 states. CVH was defined as poor (0–2), intermediate (3–5), and ideal (6–7) from summation of survey indicators (normal weight, healthy diet, adequate physical activity, not smoking, no hypertension, no high cholesterol, and no diabetes). ACEs was summed by number (0,1, 2, 3, and ≥4). A generalized logit model estimated associations between poor and intermediate CVH (ideal as referent) and ACEs accounting for age, race/ethnicity, sex, education, and health care coverage. Overall, 16.7% (95% Confidence Interval[CI]:16.3–17.1) had poor, 72.4% (95%CI:71.9–72.9) had intermediate, and 10.9% (95%CI:10.5–11.3) had ideal CVH. Zero ACEs were reported for 37.0% (95%CI:36.4–37.6), 22.5% (95%CI:22.0–23.0) reported 1, 12.7% (95%CI:12.3–13.1) reported 2, 8.5% (95%CI:8.2–8.9) reported 3, and 19.3% (95%CI:18.8–19.8) reported ≥4 ACEs. Those with 1 (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.27;95%CI = 1.11–1.46), 2 (AOR = 1.63;95%CI:1.36–1.96), 3 (AOR = 2.01;95%CI:1.66–2.44), and ≥ 4 (AOR = 2.47;95%CI:2.11–2.89) ACEs were more likely to report poor (vs. ideal) CVH compared to those with 0 ACEs. Those who reported 2 (AOR = 1.28;95%CI = 1.08–1.51), 3 (AOR = 1.48;95%CI:1.25–1.75), and ≥ 4 (AOR = 1.59;95%CI:1.38–1.83) ACEs were more likely to report intermediate (vs. ideal) CVH compared to those with 0 ACEs. Preventing and mitigating the harms of ACEs and addressing barriers to ideal CVH, particularly social and structural determinants, may improve health.