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Loneliness linked to more heart problems: a scientific review

Loneliness can take a heavy toll on the heart, researchers found that social isolation is linked in multiple studies to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new scientific claim. higher, among other adverse health outcomes.

The statement, published Thursday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, evaluated all available scientific literature regarding social isolation in the context of heart and brain health to provides a big picture of what the research shows.

The researchers note that because this is a review of a large number of studies, the aim is not to demonstrate or address a specific research question, but rather to summarize the scope and nature of studies.

Dr. Crystal Wiley Cené, chair of the scientific research group and professor of clinical medicine at the University of California San Francisco: “More than four decades of research have clearly demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness are associated with loneliness. are all associated with adverse health outcomes. Diego Health, said in a press release. “Given the prevalence of social disconnection across the United States, the public health impact is quite significant.”

The risk of social isolation increases as we age, the statement said, with a quarter of US adults over the age of 65 reporting isolation. The prevalence of loneliness in this cohort ranged from 22-47%.

However, loneliness is on the rise among young people as well as other studies, the statement said, which appears to be consistent with many reports of loneliness on the rise during the pandemic.

Cené clarifies that social isolation and loneliness refer to measurements of two different things.

“Although social isolation and feelings of loneliness are related, they are not the same,” explains Cené. “Individuals can live a relatively isolated life and not feel lonely, and conversely, people with a lot of social connections can still feel lonely.”

To compile the statement, the researchers reviewed the scientific literature relevant to July 2021, searching four databases: PubMed, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health. , and Scopus.

Overall, they found that the body of research points to social isolation and loneliness as common determinants of heart and brain health.

Some other key points that continue to emerge are that lack of social connection is associated with an increased risk of early death, especially in men, and that social isolation in childhood is associated with increased levels of risk factors for cardiovascular problems in adulthood.

However, connecting social isolation and loneliness to specific outcomes related to the heart and brain is less certain.

“There is strong evidence linking social isolation and loneliness with an increased risk of poorer heart and brain health in general; however, data on associations with certain outcomes, such as heart failure, dementia, and cognitive decline are scant,” says Cené.

The clearest link in the literature is between social isolation/loneliness and risk of dying from heart disease and stroke.

The risk of heart attack or death from heart disease increased 29%, and the risk of stroke and death from stroke increased by 32% in people who reported being lonely or socially isolated, the researchers said.

Cené added: “Social isolation and loneliness are also associated with a worse prognosis in people who already have coronary heart disease or stroke.

For many specific results, the data are inconsistent.

For example, in 19 previous studies, researchers found that out of 16, social isolation increased the risk of coronary heart disease. In the remaining three cases, loneliness was associated with an increased risk.

But a recent large-scale study from 2021 found social isolation – as measured in that study by whether they lived alone and how often they were in contact with friends, family, or friends. participation in groups – unrelated to coronary heart disease incidents.

Another review found that patients with existing coronary heart disease were 2-3 times more likely to die within 6 months of follow-up if they were socially isolated.

According to the researchers, there is little data to paint a clear picture of whether social isolation or loneliness plays a role in heart failure. However, in terms of survival after heart failure, the researchers state that the 5-year survival rate is lower in socially isolated and clinically depressed individuals than in those who are clinically depressed. who did not have that difficulty, with a survival rate of 60% compared with a corresponding 79%.

No studies have focused on the link between social isolation, loneliness, and vascular dementia that researchers have been able to find.

The researchers also looked at the body of research that took into account depression, which is often studied alongside social isolation and loneliness. They say most research shows it’s a feedback loop, with loneliness and isolation potentially causing depression, and depression potentially exacerbating loneliness and isolation.

While the study as a whole was less specific about certain health outcomes, the researchers made it clear that we should consider social isolation and loneliness a factor. more serious risk.

“Clinicians should ask patients about their social activity frequency and whether they are satisfied with their level of interaction with friends and family,” says Cene. “They should then be prepared to refer people who are isolated or socially lonely – especially those with a history of heart disease or stroke – to community resources to help them connect with the others.”

She notes that we don’t know if there are measurable differences in clinical outcomes between people who are truly socially isolated – like being physically lonely and less connected to others. over the phone or the internet – and those who feel socially isolated.

“More research is needed to examine the associations between social isolation, loneliness, coronary heart disease, stroke, dementia and cognitive decline, and to understand,” she said. better understand the mechanism by which social isolation and loneliness influence cardiovascular and brain health outcomes.

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