Study Shows Loneliness Can Increase Risk of Heart Disease in Older Women
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open from the U.S. Office on Women’s Health finds that social isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease by 8% and 5%, respectively, in older women in the U.S.
For women who had greater social isolation and loneliness there was also a 13%-27% higher risk of heart disease compared with women who were less socially isolated and less lonely.
To conduct the study, nearly 58,000 women aged 65-99 with no known history of heart disease were provided a questionnaire regarding social isolation from 2011-2019 through the Women’s Health Initiative Extension Study II.
Researchers then conducted a series of separate questionnaires of nearly 81,500 women from 2011-2012, and a follow-up questionnaire was provided from 2014-2015 to further assess loneliness and social support.
Currently, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women and accounts for nearly one in every five deaths among women.
Based on the results of the study, the researchers recommend that communities work to establish greater social support for older women to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Alexa can be reached at [email protected]
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