Early life adversity and C-reactive protein in diverse populations of older adults: a cross-sectional analysis from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies suggest potential associations between childhood adversity and chronic inflammation at older ages. Our aim is to compare associations between childhood health, social and economic adversity and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in populations of older adults living in different countries.MethodsWe used the 2012 baseline data (n = 1340) from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS) of community-dwelling people aged 65–74 years in Natal (Brazil), Manizales (Colombia) and Canada (Kingston, Ontario; Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec). Multiple linear and Poisson regressions with robust covariance were fitted to examine the associations between early life health, social, and economic adversity and hsCRP, controlling for age, sex, financial strain, marital status, physical activity, smoking and chronic conditions both in the Canadian and in the Latin American samples.ResultsParticipants from Canadian cities have less adverse childhood conditions and better childhood self-reported health. Inflammation was lower in the Canadian cities than in Manizales and Natal. Significant associations were found between hsCRP and childhood social adversity in the Canadian but not in the Latin American samples. Among Canadian older adults, the fully-adjusted mean hsCRP was 2.2 (95 % CI 1.7; 2.8) among those with none or one childhood social adversity compared with 2.8 (95 % CI 2.1; 3.8) for those with two or more childhood social adversities (p = 0.053). Similarly, the prevalence of hsCRP > 3 mg/dL was 40 % higher among those with higher childhood social adversity but after adjustment by health behaviors and chronic conditions the association was attenuated. No associations were observed between hsCRP and childhood poor health or childhood economic adversity.ConclusionsInflammation was higher in older participants living in the Latin American cities compared with their Canadian counterparts. Childhood social adversity, not childhood economic adversity or poor health during childhood, was an independent predictor of chronic inflammation in old age in the Canadian sample. Selective survival could possibly explain the lack of association between social adversity and hsCRP in the Latin American samples.

Social relationships, inflammation markers, and breast cancer incidence in the Women’s Health Initiative

“…In sum, social relationship characteristics were related to inflammation levels, but appeared to have little influence on development of breast cancer. Our findings are consistent with prior work on social relationship characteristics and inflammation [12,13], though the present study had a much larger sample size and placed the findings in the context of subsequent development of a specific form of cancer.…”

“…Moreover, critical gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying links between social relationships and cancer. Social relationships have been linked to inflammation [12,13], which is a potential mediator of associations between social relationships and cancer, providing one possible mechanism through which social interactions might “get under the skin” to influence health.…”

Sources of social support associated with health and quality of life: a cross-sectional study among Canadian and Latin American older adults

“…We addressed this issue in previous publications reporting that according to census data, the Saint-Hyacinthe sample is comparable to the population of the same age group in the selected cities in terms of education, income and education and that the Kingston sample is relatively more highly educated. Kingston is, nevertheless, similar to the sample in Saint-Hyacinthe in terms of blood pressure, 57 C reactive protein, 58 physical function indicators 31 and distributions of SRH, depression and quality of life as reported here. It is nevertheless important to mention that the study samples are limited to older adults registered with a primary care provider, and that study samples in Canada are likely to be less depressed than the general population of older adults, given that they had to contact the research coordinator to participate in the study.…”

Cohort Profile: The International Mobility In Aging Study (IMIAS)

“…17 Life course adversity, reproductive history, gender roles and domestic violence as gender-related risk factors for physical performance and mobility disability in old age IMIAS showed evidence of the early origins of social and economic inequalities in physical performance during old age: low physical performance was associated with childhood social and economic adversity, semi-skilled occupations, living alone and insufficient income in later life. 18 Early social adversity was associated with high levels of inflammation in old age 19 and inflammation in old age was associated with low physical performance. 20 All these associations between life course adversity, inflammation and physical performance were similar in men and women.…”