Loneliness and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms and Future Directions

Paul, Elise; Bu, Feifei

doi:10.1007/s11886-021-01495-2

Cited by 39 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Loneliness has long been recognised as a risk factor for poor mental health; however, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has emerged as a critical public health issue 7–9. Loneliness is a strong risk factor for many diseases, for example, cardiovascular diseases and is associated with an increased risk of mortality 7 10–13. Chronic loneliness is characterised by deficits in attention, affect, cognition, and behaviour that affect genetic, neural, and hormonal mechanisms, and thus contribute to higher morbidity and mortality rates 14.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness and mental well-being in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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ObjectiveThere is a growing concern that the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to increased loneliness and mental disorders, which are considered a major public health problem. The aim of the study was to assess loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignA cross-sectional study. The study participants completed an online questionnaire using the computer-assisted web interview technique. Data were collected using Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.SettingPoland.ParticipantsThis study was conducted between 6 October and 12 October 2020, in a representative sample of 890 Polish residents.Primary outcome measuresSelf-reported loneliness; sociodemographic and COVID-19 pandemic factors associated with loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability.ResultsThe analyses showed a moderately high degree of loneliness in 22%, symptoms of anxiety in 27%, depression in 14% and irritability in 33% of the respondents. The increasing severity of anxiety, depression and irritation in the study group was accompanied by higher loneliness. Generally, younger people, both tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and those who experienced home quarantine, scored higher in both scales.ConclusionsIt is necessary to identify those most vulnerable to loneliness, anxiety and depression during a crisis to assess health needs and proactively allocate resources during and after the pandemic. Loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability are important factors to consider in a population of younger, disadvantaged people, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, people who were quarantined at home, and people who believe that their physical and mental health is worse than in the pre-pandemic period. It is important to cater for the mental health of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote psychological interventions to improve mental well-being in potentially vulnerable social groups.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness and mental well-being in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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“…Globally, mental health status has declined during the pandemic, partially as a result of isolation, which has led to loneliness [ 11 ]. Loneliness is correlated to all-cause mortality, including increased vulnerability to coronary heart disease, depression and other diseases that contribute to lower quality of life [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Anxiety and depression have increased substantially during the pandemic [ 15 ] as many people were forced into isolation, even for significant events in their lives, such as birthdays, funerals and weddings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

And Still She Rises: Policies for Improving Women’s Health for a More Equitable Post-Pandemic World

Tsang

Schwartz

Alkhadragy

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned crises of violence, hunger and impoverishment. Maternal and Infant Health Canada (MIHCan) conducted this policy action study to explore how changes that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic may catalyze potential improvements in global women’s health toward the creation of a more equitable post-pandemic world. In this mixed methods study, 280 experts in women’s health responded to our survey and 65 subsequently participated in focus groups, including professionals from India, Egypt/Sudan, Canada and the United States/Mexico. From the results of this study, our recommendations include augmenting mental health through more open dialogue, valuing and compensating those working on the frontlines through living wages, paid sick leave and enhanced benefits and expanding digital technology that facilitate flexible work locations, thereby freeing time for improving the wellbeing of caregivers and families and offering telemedicine and telecounseling, which delivers greater access to care. We also recommend bridging the digital divide through the widespread provision of reliable and affordable internet services and digital literacy training. These policy recommendations for employers, governments and health authorities aim to improve mental and physical wellbeing and working conditions, while leveraging the potential of digital technology for healthcare provision for those who identify as women, knowing that others will benefit. MIHCan took action on the recommendation to improve mental health through open conversation by facilitating campaigns in all study regions. Despite the devastation of the pandemic on global women’s health, implementing these changes could yield improvements for years to come.

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“…A long history of observational evidence from well-designed epidemiologic and clinical studies indicates that living alone as opposed to with a married spouse or similar intimate partner is associated with increased risk of death from coronary disease [ 12 , 13 ]. Subsequent research documents that general levels of social connection and support are robust protective factors in the development and course of CHD, whereas isolation and loneliness confer an approximately 30 to 60% increased risk for incident CHD and poor prognosis [ 14 – 16 ]. For many adults, marriage and similar intimate relationships are a primary source of social connection and support, and substantial recent evidence indicates that being married or in a similar relationship is associated with reduced risk of incident CHD and recurrent events and mortality among CHD patients [ 17 – 20 ].…”

Section: Psychosocial Influences On the Development And Course Of Dis...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Intimate Relationships and Coronary Heart Disease: Implications for Risk, Prevention, and Patient Management

Smith

2022

Curr Cardiol Rep

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Purpose of Review Research and clinical services addressing psychosocial aspects of coronary heart disease (CHD) typically emphasize individuals, focusing less on the context of intimate relationships such as marriage and similar partnerships. This review describes current evidence regarding the role of intimate relationships in the development, course, and management of CHD. Recent Findings Having an intimate partner is associated with reduced risk of incident CHD and a better prognosis among patients, but strain (e.g., conflict) and disruption (i.e., separation, divorce) in these relationships are associated with increased risk and poor outcomes. These associations likely reflect mechanisms involving health behavior and the physiological effects of emotion and stress. Importantly, many other well-established psychosocial risk and protective factors (e.g., low SES, job stress, depression, and optimism) are strongly related to the quality of intimate relationships, and these associations likely contribute to the effects of those other psychosocial factors. For better or worse, intimate partners can also affect the outcome of efforts to alter health behaviors (physical activity, diet, smoking, and medication adherence) central in the prevention and management CHD. Intimate partners also influence—and are influenced by—stressful aspects of acute coronary crises and longer-term patient adjustment and management. Summary Evidence on each of these roles of intimate relationships in CHD is considerable, but direct demonstrations of the value of couple assessments and interventions are limited, although preliminary research is promising. Research needed to close this gap must also address issues of diversity, disparities, and inequity that have strong parallels in CHD and intimate relationships.

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Loneliness and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms and Future Directions

Cited by 39 publications

References 73 publications

Loneliness and mental well-being in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Loneliness and mental well-being in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

And Still She Rises: Policies for Improving Women’s Health for a More Equitable Post-Pandemic World

Intimate Relationships and Coronary Heart Disease: Implications for Risk, Prevention, and Patient Management

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