Association of adverse childhood experiences with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Further clarification is needed regarding the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the risk of diabetes. To conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis of studies assessing the association between ACEs and the risk of diabetes.

Method: We conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for published studies describing the association between ACEs and diabetes in December 2021. We examined the overall relationship between ACEs and diabetes and performed a subgroup analysis based on the type of ACEs, number of ACEs, and gender.

Results: A total of 17 studies were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed the significant estimated effect of ACEs on diabetes (OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.35). The subgroup analysis found a significant association between neglect (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.11, 2.33), family dysfunction (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.24) and diabetes, respectively. Gender and the number of ACEs were factors that significantly affect the risk of diabetes.

Conclusion: The results suggest that ACEs were significantly associated with an elevated risk of diabetes, especially for exposure to neglect, family dysfunction, and two or more ACES. Effective ACEs screening for children and intervention among high-risk populations should be taken so as to reduce the incidence of diabetes.

Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; Diabetes; Meta-analysis.