Rapid Evidence Review: Which adverse childhood experiences are most predictive of health care costs among adults?

Rapid Evidence Review

Medicaid policymakers are interested in identifying which adverse childhood experiences are associated with higher health care costs among adults.

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This review, conducted in three days by AcademyHealth’s Translation and Dissemination Institute, found evidence suggesting that individuals who have experienced more than one adverse childhood experience have higher health care costs than individuals who have experienced one or none of these events. Collectively, the studies included in this review report costs for three of the 10 major adverse childhood experiences: physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect.

This rapid evidence review is part of an AcademyHealth series that seeks to pilot innovative approaches to quickly, but rigorously identify and communicate evidence to inform public and private decision-making. The series examines questions relevant to building a Culture of Health, the current focus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the project’s funder.