A Tulane University study finds loneliness is a bigger risk factor for heart disease than smoking, depression, diet and lack of exercise when it comes to patients with diabetes.
Previous studies have found that loneliness is related to a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease in the general population. This study looked at whether diabetics who were lonely or socially isolated were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who were not.
The study included 18,509 adults between 37 and 73 years old in the UK with diabetes but no cardiovascular disease. Loneliness and isolation were assessed with questionnaires.
"The quality of social contact appears to be more important for heart health in people with diabetes than the number of engagements," said study author Dr. Lu Qi, CA Regents Distinguished Chair and Professor at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. "We should not downplay the importance of loneliness on physical and emotional health."
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.
The research was published in European Heart Journal, a publication of the European Society of Cardiology.
