Childhood and myocardial infarction:: socio-economic and psychosocial childhood effects on myocardial infarction risk

Childhood and myocardial infarction: socio-economic and psychosocial childhood effects on myocardial infarction risk Objectives: Compared to the established risk factors of myocardial infarction (MI) little is known about the impact of socioeconomic and psycho-social risk factors during childhood. Methods: Based on the WHO MONICA infarction register of the Erfurt reporting unit (1990 - 1993), 129 male cases and 129 controls (patients of accident surgery without psychiatric or heart disease, matched by age groups) were surveyed by a qualitative interview. The MI risk was analysed for general conditions of childhood, stressful life events, serious changes during childhood, and dissatisfaction with childhood using univariate and multiple logistic regression models. Results. A significantly higher risk was found for worse (OR 5.1; Cl: 1.5 - 18.1) and mediocre (OR 2.0; CI: 1.0 - 4.1) housing conditions as well as migration (OR 3.0; Cl: 1.1 - 8.3) during childhood. A significantly increased risk of MI is also found for individuals who reported three or more stressful life events (OR = 3.2; Cl: 1.1-9.4) during childhood. In comparison, smoking habits (current or ex-smokers) - an established impact factor on MI - was associated with a slightly lower risk (OR = 2.6; Cl: 1.3-5.3). Conclusions: Both socio-economic determinants and psychosocial factors of childhood carry significant risk for myocardial infarction in later life. Our data support the hypothesis that risk factors of MI are affected and/or triggered by socio-economic living conditions during childhood in general, and by stressful life events during childhood in particular.