Loneliness raises heart attack risk

New study highlights the dangers of a solitary life

LONELINESS may raise the risk of a heart attack by more than 40%.

A major study published today also suggests that social isolation can increase the chance of a stroke by 39% and premature death by up to 50%.

The analysis is based on the health records of 480,000 people – making it the largest study of its kind.

Those who already had cardiovascular problems were far more likely to die early if they were isolated, suggesting the importance of family and friends in aiding recovery, the study found. The research team said lonely people had higher rates of chronic diseases and smoking, and showed more symptoms of depression.

Christian Hakulinen, the University of Helsinki expert who led the study, concluded that having few social contacts was a risk factor for early death, particularly among those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

‘The message is that if we target the conventional risk factors, then we could perhaps reduce the cardiovascular disease among those who are isolated or lonely,’ said Dr Hakulinen.

‘It is also important we show that those who are socially isolated might have a worse prognosis after a heart attack or stroke.’

Scientists from University College London and Finland tracked 480,000 British people, aged 40 to 69, for seven years. They found that social isolation was associated with a 43% higher risk of first-time heart attack when age, gender and ethnicity were factored in.

Once lifestyle and socio-economic factors were taken into account, this explained 84% of the increased risk, suggesting the lonely and isolated were most vulnerable to wellknown risks.

Similarly, social isolation was associated with a 39% heightened chance of a first-time stroke, but the other conventional risk factors accounted for 83% of it.

The results were similar for loneliness and risk of first-time heart attack or stroke, according to the study in the medical journal Heart.

Those who already had cardiovascular problems were 50% more likely to die if socially isolated, and still a quarter more likely to die once known risks had been accounted for.

‘Might have worse prognosis’