The World Health Organization (WHO) declared loneliness a serious global health threat in 2023, with a mortality impact equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
While previous research has linked loneliness to a higher risk of developing heart disease, Harvard T.H. A new study conducted by researchers from. Chan School of Public Health, US, examined the association between changes in loneliness over time and the risk of stroke.
“The study suggests that loneliness may play a significant role in the incidence of stroke, which is already one of the leading causes of long-term disability and mortality worldwide,” said lead author, research associate in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Yeni Soh said.
The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, was based on 8,936 participants aged 50 and older who had never had a stroke.
The results showed that participants who were alone for shorter periods of time had a 25 percent higher risk of stroke. However, even after taking into account a wide range of other known risk factors, people in the "persistently high" loneliness group had a 56 percent higher risk of stroke than people in the "persistently low" group.
In the study, people who experienced loneliness at one time had a higher risk of stroke, and people who had experienced loneliness or had recently experienced loneliness showed no clear pattern of increased risk of stroke.
"This suggests that the effects of loneliness on stroke risk occur over the long term," the researchers said.
While previous research has linked loneliness to a higher risk of developing heart disease, Harvard T.H. A new study conducted by researchers from. Chan School of Public Health, US, examined the association between changes in loneliness over time and the risk of stroke.
“The study suggests that loneliness may play a significant role in the incidence of stroke, which is already one of the leading causes of long-term disability and mortality worldwide,” said lead author, research associate in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Yeni Soh said.
The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, was based on 8,936 participants aged 50 and older who had never had a stroke.
The results showed that participants who were alone for shorter periods of time had a 25 percent higher risk of stroke. However, even after taking into account a wide range of other known risk factors, people in the "persistently high" loneliness group had a 56 percent higher risk of stroke than people in the "persistently low" group.
In the study, people who experienced loneliness at one time had a higher risk of stroke, and people who had experienced loneliness or had recently experienced loneliness showed no clear pattern of increased risk of stroke.
"This suggests that the effects of loneliness on stroke risk occur over the long term," the researchers said.
