Kreatsoulas C, et al. – In this study, researchers drew on data from the 2009 & 2011 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System to determine the prevalence, and test the association of, adverse childhood experiences between unhealthy behaviors and risk factors as a primordial risk factor for young adults. Of the 45,482 participants in the study, 52% reported one adverse childhood experience and 25% reported two adverse childhood experiences. Of the total population of the study, 37% reported violence/emotional abuse, 34% reported negligence, and 12% reported sexual abuse. Overall, the investigators concluded that the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in this study population was high. Even one adverse childhood experience was strongly and independently linked to cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes) with consequences for primordial prevention.