A comprehensive Swedish study involving over 2 million individuals indicates that parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The research, which followed 1.18 million mothers and 882,000 fathers for a mean of 16 years, found elevated CVD risk among parents with children diagnosed with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or ADHD.
Mothers of children with NDDs showed a hazard ratio of 1.27 for CVD, while fathers had a ratio of 1.20. The risk escalated with the number of affected children, with mothers experiencing hazard ratios of 1.22, 1.39, and 1.66 for one, two, and three or more NDD children, respectively. Fathers saw corresponding ratios of 1.16, 1.33, and 1.50.
Researchers attribute this heightened risk to chronic stress, burnout, and psychological strain associated with caregiving responsibilities and managing a child's diagnosis. These factors can trigger biological processes detrimental to cardiometabolic health.
While the effect sizes were noted as small, the study highlights significant public health implications due to the prevalence of NDDs. The findings suggest a need for early cardiovascular monitoring in parents of children with NDDs, pending further research.