Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern linked to psychiatric and physical morbidity. However, evidence from East Asia, particularly from registry-based and sex-inclusive analyses, remains limited. We hypothesized that IPV survivors would have elevated risks of psychiatric disorders and stress-related physical conditions. AIM: To assess psychiatric and physical health risks following IPV exposure in Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, registry-based case control study using data from Taiwan's Health and Welfare Data Science Center. Adults aged 18-64 years with a first IPV report in 2019 (n = 43393) were matched 1:1 by sex and age to controls. Incident diagnoses within 1 year were identified from claims data. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs). RESULTS: Compared to controls, IPV survivors had higher risks of depressive disorders [AOR = 4.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.78-4.60, P < 0.001], bipolar disorder (AOR = 4.81, 95%CI: 3.83-6.10, P < 0.001), schizophrenia (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.46-2.10, P < 0.001), and alcohol/substance use disorders (AOR = 5.98, 95%CI: 2.21-8.50, P < 0.001). The risk of asthma was modestly elevated (AOR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.08-1.60, P = 0.006). No significant association was observed for irritable bowel syndrome (P = 0.94). CONCLUSION: IPV survivors in Taiwan face substantially increased psychiatric risk and a modestly elevated risk of asthma, warranting early screening and integrated mental and physical health care.