Loneliness Is Significantly Associated With Increased CVD Risks

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart conditions and stroke, is a leading cause of death. Clinically, it is important to identify and address risk factors for these vascular disorders. Loneliness is defined as a subjective feeling of social isolation and is associated with an array of physical and mental health issues. Objective: To study the association of loneliness with the incidence of CVD in middle-aged and older Chinese adults using Cox proportional hazards models. Methods: The Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study was used for this study. More than 17,700 adults aged ≥45 years were recruited during a 2-year period. Information was collected at baseline and every 2 years (sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, health status, and mental health). For inclusion, participants had to be aged ≥45 years, have no history of CVD at baseline, have complete data on loneliness, and have complete follow-up every 2 years. If CVD was present a more...