Hughes, K, Ford, K, Bellis, MA, Glendinning, F, Harrison, E and Passmore, J (2021) Health and financial costs of adverse childhood experiences in 28 European countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 6 (11). e848-e857. ISSN 2468-2667

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Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased health risks across the life course. We aimed to estimate the annual health and financial burden of ACEs for 28 European countries.
Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Criminal Justice Databases, and Education Resources Information Center for quantitative studies (published Jan 1, 1990, to Sept 8, 2020) that reported prevalence of ACEs and risks of health outcomes associated with ACEs. Pooled relative risks were calculated for associations between ACEs and harmful alcohol use, smoking, illicit drug use, high body-mass index, depression, anxiety, interpersonal violence, cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and respiratory disease. Country-level ACE prevalence was calculated using available data. Country-level population attributable fractions (PAFs) due to ACEs were generated and applied to 2019 estimates of disability-adjusted life-years. Financial costs (US$ in 2019) were estimated using an adapted human capital approach.
Findings: In most countries, interpersonal violence had the largest PAFs due to ACEs (range 14·7–53·5%), followed by harmful alcohol use (15·7–45·0%), illicit drug use (15·2–44·9%), and anxiety (13·9%–44·8%). Harmful alcohol use, smoking, and cancer had the highest ACE-attributable costs in many countries. Total ACE-attributable costs ranged from $0·1 billion (Montenegro) to $129·4 billion (Germany) and were equivalent to between 1·1% (Sweden and Turkey) and 6·0% (Ukraine) of nations’ gross domestic products.
Interpretation: Availability of ACE data varies widely between countries and country-level estimates cannot be directly compared. However, findings suggest ACEs are associated with major health and financial costs across European countries. The cost of not investing to prevent ACEs must be recognised, particularly as countries look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted services and education, and potentially increased risk factors for ACEs. Funding: WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans; Health Care Costs; Europe; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Europe; Health Care Costs; Humans
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	18 Jan 2023 12:36
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 12:37
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00232-2
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18676

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