Racial/Ethnic Differences in Associations Between Traumatic Childhood Experiences and Both Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk Among a Cohort of US Women


 
 Childhood adversity has been associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes risk in adulthood. However, studies have yet to investigate traumatic childhood experiences (TCEs) beyond abuse and neglect (e.g., natural disaster) while considering potential racial/ethnic differences.
 
 
 
 To investigate race/ethnicity as a potential modifier of the association between TCEs, MetS, and type 2 diabetes, we used prospectively collected data from 42,173 eligible non-Hispanic White (NHW; 88%), Black/African American (BAA; 7%), and Hispanic/Latina (4%) Sister Study participants (aged 35–74 years) enrolled from 2003 to 2009. A modified Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey captured TCEs. At least three prevalent metabolic abnormalities defined MetS, and self-report of a new diagnosis during the study period defined type 2 diabetes. We used adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for type 2 diabetes over a mean ± SD follow-up of 11.1 ± 2.7 years, overall and by race/ethnicity. We also tested for modification and mediation by MetS.
 
 
 
 Incident cases of type 2 diabetes were reported (n = 2,479 among NHWs, 461 among BAAs, and 281 among Latinas). Reporting any TCEs (50% among NHWs, 53% among BAAs, and 51% among Latinas) was associated with a 13% higher risk of type 2 diabetes (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04–1.22). Associations were strongest among Latinas (HR 1.64 [95% CI 1.21–2.22] vs. 1.09 for BAAs and NHWs). MetS was not a modifier but mediated (indirect effect, HR 1.01 [95% CI 1.00–1.01]; P = 0.02) the overall association.
 
 
 
 TCE and type 2 diabetes associations varied by race/ethnicity and were partially explained by MetS.
