Loneliness and Anxiety Together May Significantly Heighten Atrial Fibrillation Risk: Study Finds

“The combination of loneliness and anxiety had a significant interaction effect, amplifying the risk of atrial fibrillation beyond the impact of either factor alone,” the researchers noted. This synergistic effect suggests that psychological stressors do not act in isolation but may compound each other in ways that influence cardiovascular outcomes.

The study employed Cox proportional hazards regression to adjust for various confounding factors and assess the independent and combined effects of social and psychological variables on AF incidence.

The authors emphasized the clinical relevance of their findings: “Our results indicate that loneliness, particularly when persistent, is an independent risk factor for AF. Furthermore, anxiety in lonely individuals synergistically increases the risk. Focusing on anxious, lonely individuals probably could provide additional insight into early prevention strategies of AF.”

As atrial fibrillation continues to rise in prevalence due to aging populations and lifestyle changes, identifying non-traditional risk factors such as emotional distress and social disconnection becomes critical. This study provides compelling evidence that addressing psychological well-being—particularly among those who feel chronically lonely—could help mitigate the risk of developing serious heart rhythm disorders like AF.

Reference:

Liu, S., Tang, H., Wang, J., Li, Y., Meng, C., Wu, J., Wang, W., Yuan, H., & Lu, Y. (2025). Joint association of loneliness and anxiety on atrial fibrillation risk. Heart Rhythm. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.02.050