In a recent study published in eClinicalMedicine , researchers determined the relationship between loneliness and incident stroke risk in the United States. Stroke is a major worldwide health problem, particularly among elders. Hypertension, diabetes, and smoking are associated with a lower risk of stroke.
Loneliness, a potential risk factor, might be modifiable in the elderly population and a target for stroke prevention. However, few studies have evaluated the links between loneliness and stroke, including depressive symptoms. Loneliness, regardless of social isolation or depressive symptoms, appears to be connected with various cardiovascular health outcomes.
There is limited data on whether changes in loneliness over time are associated with stroke risk in middle-aged and older individuals. In the present study, researchers investigated whether loneliness chronicity can increase stroke incidence among United States adults. The researchers evaluated Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data from 2006 to 2018.
For baseline loneliness studies, they included only United States residents aged ≥50 years, eliminating those with insufficient data or who died at baseline. They analyzed changes in loneliness over two periods (baseline or T1 in 2006 or 2008 and T2 in 2010 or 2012), including individuals aged ≥50 years at study initiation without stroke in the exposure assessment period. The researchers assessed loneliness using the three-component updated University of California, .
