Childhood woes add to risk of chronic diseases

People who experience traumatic events in childhood, such as abuse or having a parent in jail, are 60% more likely to develop multiple chronic diseases as adults, research has found.

The later-life health effects of stressful childhood experiences were examined by researchers at University College Cork in a study involving 2,047 adults aged 50-69.

Lead researcher Carol Sinnott, who runs a GP surgery in Waterford, said she sees patients in her practice everyday with chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and depression whose needs go “over and above” having their disease managed.