Abstract

Introduction

Epidemiological studies in different traumatised samples indicate an increased risk for numerous physical and mental diseases. It is suspected that this is due to chronic changes in fundamental processes in the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, which take years to manifest pathologically. Previous studies have considered intervals of a few decades. However, little is known about whether a link between trauma and physical and mental health can be established over very long periods of time and in the oldest old population.

Materials and methods

A total of 1,299 German citizens aged 80 and above were interviewed about on-going suffering from the effects of traumatic World War II (WWII) events as well as about physical and mental health. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of suffering from the effects of traumatic events on general health, several medical conditions, multimorbidity, pain, and depression.

Results

43.94% of the oldest old were still suffering from the effects of traumatic events in connection with WWII. Participants who were still suffering from the effects of traumatic events were more likely to be treated for heart failure, blood diseases, bladder problems, back pain, respiratory or lung diseases, and sleep disorders. They also had poorer general health, higher multimorbidity, more pain, and higher depression scores.

Discussion

Findings suggest that chronic psychological suffering from the effects of traumatic events in early life is associated with impaired physical and mental health even seven decades after the events.

中文翻译：

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二战创伤影响老年人的身心健康：一项德国人口研究的结果

摘要

介绍

对不同创伤样本的流行病学研究表明，许多身体和精神疾病的风险增加。怀疑这是由于免疫系统、神经系统和内分泌系统的基本过程发生了慢性变化，这些变化需要数年时间才能在病理上显现出来。以前的研究考虑了几十年的间隔。然而，关于创伤与身心健康之间的联系是否可以在很长一段时间内以及在最年长的老年人群中建立起来，我们知之甚少。

材料和方法

共有 1,299 名 80 岁及以上的德国公民接受了关于遭受二战创伤性事件影响的持续痛苦以及身心健康的采访。使用多元线性和逻辑回归模型来评估遭受创伤事件的影响对一般健康、几种医疗状况、多种疾病、疼痛和抑郁的影响。

结果

43.94% 的最年长老人仍在遭受与二战有关的创伤事件的影响。仍然遭受创伤事件影响的参与者更有可能接受心力衰竭、血液疾病、膀胱问题、背痛、呼吸或肺部疾病以及睡眠障碍的治疗。他们的一般健康状况也较差，多发病率较高，疼痛较多，抑郁评分较高。

讨论

研究结果表明，即使在事件发生七十年后，早年遭受创伤事件影响的慢性心理痛苦与身心健康受损有关。