Adverse Childhood Experiences and Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Outcomes: Single Center Study

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are linked to several health issues in adulthood. It is not known how ACE may impact solid organ transplant outcomes. We hypothesized that ACE are associated with adverse outcomes. We administered a 10-item inventory ACE questionnaire to 48 patients transplanted as children and transitioned to adult services. Mean age was 23 years, 54% were female, 19% White. Primary outcome was a current functioning graft. 60.4% reported an ACE score of > 0, 22.9% reported an ACE score of > 3. There was no association between an ACE score > 0 (P = 0.3715) or > 3 (P = 0.5757) and graft loss. In this single center study, we did not find an association between ACE and adverse transplant outcomes in young adult transplant patients. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between childhood trauma and long-term transplant outcomes.