Victims of childhood abuse spend more on health care

AORN Journal, May, 2008

Women in their rate 40s who were physically or sexually abused as children may spend up to 36% more on hearth care, according to a February 19, 2008, news release from The Ohio State University, Columbus. After accounting for other factors (eg, age, education), researchers concluded that childhood abuse correlated with increased spending on health care later in life.

In a tong-term study, researchers investigated 3,333 women living in the Pacific Northwest, 34% of whom reported some type of childhood abuse. Compared with women who were not abused as children,

* women who were sexually abused as children paid an average of $382 (16%) more per year on health care,

* women who were physically abused as children paid an average of $502 (22%) more per year on health care, and

* women who were both sexually and physically

* abused as children paid an average of $790 (36%) more per year on health care.

Women who experienced childhood abuse were more likely to be diagnosed with depression, report additional physical symptoms, and have a higher body mass index. Women who suffered both physical and sexual abuse as children also had higher rates of health service use in the following areas:

* mental health,

* hospital outpatient visits,

* emergency department visits,

* primary care,

* specialty care, and

* prescribed medications.

Women who suffered child abuse spend more on health care [news release]. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University; February 19, 2008. http://researchnews.osu.edu /archive/chldabus.htm. Accessed March 10, 2008.