Loneliness is tied to higher cardiovascular disease risk in diabetic patients.

Loneliness is a bigger risk factor for heart disease in patients with diabetes than diet, exercise, smoking, and depression, according to research published today in the European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.

The study included 18,509 adults aged 37 to 73 years in the UK Biobank with diabetes but no cardiovascular disease at baseline. High-risk loneliness features were feeling lonely and never or almost never be able to confide in someone, for a total score of 0 to 2. High-risk social isolation factors were living alone, having friends and family visit less than once a month, and not participating in a social activity at least once per week, for a total score of 0 to 3.

During an average follow-up of 10.7 years, 3,247 participants developed cardiovascular disease, of which 2,771 was coronary heart disease and 701 was stroke (some patients had both). Compared to participants with the lowest loneliness score, the risk of cardiovascular disease was 11% and 26% higher in those with scores of 1 or 2, respectively. Similar results were observed for coronary heart disease but the association with stroke was not significant. Social isolation scores were not significantly related to any of the cardiovascular outcomes.

The researchers also assessed the relative importance of loneliness, compared with other risk factors, on the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Loneliness showed a weaker influence than kidney function, cholesterol, and BMI, but a stronger influence than depression, smoking, physical activity, and diet.

Reference: Professor Lu Qi et al, European Heart Journal, DOI 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad306