LAUSR

OBJECTIVE The death of a parent during childhood is a severe life event with potentially long-term consequences. Earlier studies have shown an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) after the death of a spouse, child or sibling. Whether parental death during childhood is associated with an increased risk of incident CVD is unknown and was investigated in this study. METHODS We studied 48,992 men born 1949-51 and enlisted for military conscription in 1969-70. We obtained information on death of a parent during childhood, CVD up to 2008 and covariates by linking the questionnaire and the clinical examination data from conscription with nationwide socioeconomic and health registers. RESULTS Men who lost a parent during childhood had an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30 (1.13-1.49)], but not of stroke during the 39-year follow-up [adjusted HR (95% CI): 0.87 (0.66-1.15)]. Maternal death was associated with IHD both when the loss was due to cardiovascular [adjusted HR (95% CI): 2.04 (1.02-4.08)] and unnatural causes [adjusted HR (95% CI): 2.50 (1.42-4.42)]; in case of paternal death an increased IHD risk was observed only when the loss was due to cardiovascular causes [adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.82(1.37-2.42)]. There were no substantial differences in CVD according to the child's age at the loss. CONCLUSIONS Parental death during childhood was associated with an increased risk of IHD in men. If these associations are confirmed in future studies, the long-term effects of childhood bereavement may warrant attention.