Childhood socioeconomic conditions are associated with increased chronic low-grade inflammation over adolescence: findings from the EPITeen cohort study

Abstract

Objective Early life adversity has been associated with increased risk of inflammation and inflammation-related diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to examine the association of childhood socioeconomic conditions with chronic low-grade inflammation over adolescence. Methods We used information on 2942 members (1507 girls and 1435 boys) of the EPITeen (Epidemiological Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto) cohort that was established in 2003 in Porto, Portugal, and included 13-year-old adolescents were further evaluated at 17 and 21 years. Mother’ and father’s education and occupation were used as indicators of childhood socioeconomic conditions. High-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured at three points in time (13, 17 and 21 years). hs-CRP levels were categorised in tertiles separately for each wave; chronic low-grade inflammation in adolescence was defined as having hs-CRP levels in the highest tertile in at least two waves and never in the lowest tertile. Results Prevalence of chronic low-grade inflammation during adolescence was significantly higher among participants with low parental socioeconomic position. Low parental socioeconomic position was associated with chronic low-grade inflammation in adolescence, after adjustment for sex, perinatal and physical environment factors, health-related behaviours and health status in adolescence OR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.4 for lowest versus highest mother’s education and OR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.3 for lowest versus highest father’s occupation. Conclusion Low childhood socioeconomic conditions are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation during adolescence. Our results suggest that the early life socioeconomic environment has an impact on inflammatory processes over adolescence.