Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Multimorbidity

Is childhood maltreatment associated with increased risks of adult multimorbidity?In this population-based cohort study of 32 674 individuals identified between 2001 and 2010 in Hong Kong, childhood maltreatment was associated with increased risks across 13 diagnostic categories in adulthood. Childhood maltreatment was also associated with a higher risk and earlier onset of both simple and complex multimorbidity.These findings suggest that childhood maltreatment is associated with broad and lasting adverse health consequences across the life course, highlighting the importance of prevention, early identification, trauma-informed care, and strengthened child protection policies.

Corresponding Authors: Patrick Ip, MD, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China (patricip@hku.hk); Frederick K. Ho, PhD, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (frederick.ho@glasgow.ac.uk).

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