Socially isolated middle-aged people are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Heart.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland conducted a survey with 480,000 participants aged 40 to 69 whose health was monitored in the Biobank UK study between 2007 and 2010.
As part of the study, the scientists asked the volunteers to rate their social isolation, loneliness, height, blood pressure, their weight and give detailed information about their ethnicity, education, household income, whether they drank alcohol or smoked and whether they had any depressive symptoms. Almost one in ten (9%) was socially isolated, 6% was alone and 1% both.
During the seven years of the study, 12,478 people died, 5,731 had a first heart attack and 3,471 had their first stroke.
Loneliness, a risk factor for a heart attack
Social isolation was linked to a 43% higher risk of heart attack and 39% of stroke.
“Social isolation and feelings of loneliness are associated with a higher risk of severe myocardial infarction or stroke,” says Dr Christian Hakulinen, senior psychologist at the University of Helsinki.
“Social isolation seems to remain an independent risk factor for mortality after a heart attack or stroke”, adds the researcher.
This study seems to confirm the concerns of Prime Minister Theresa May who announced in January 2018 the appointment of a Minister of Solitude to respond to a problem that affects millions of Britons.
According to the BBC, half of people aged 75 and over live alone in England, or around two million people. The majority of them can see the days and weeks go by in complete isolation, without any social interaction.
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