Loneliness and Anxiety Together May Significantly Heighten Atrial Fibrillation Risk: Study Finds
China: A large-scale prospective study published in Heart Rhythm highlights a significant link between loneliness and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), especially when loneliness is persistent and coexists with psychological distress such as anxiety or depression.
The research, led by Shiqi Liu from the Clinical Research Center at The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China, analysed data from 319,901 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank. All participants were initially free from atrial fibrillation and had complete data on social isolation and loneliness. The researchers also explored how psychological distress interacted with loneliness to affect AF risk.
The findings of the study were as follows:
- Individuals who reported feeling lonely had a 14% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to those who did not feel lonely.
- Those with persistent loneliness faced more than twice the risk of AF (Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.11).
- No significant association was observed between social isolation—defined as the objective lack of social contact—and AF risk.
- The presence of depression alongside loneliness increased the risk of AF by 42% (HR 1.42).
- The combination of loneliness and anxiety was linked to a 2.3-fold increase in the risk of developing AF (HR 2.30).
“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
