Loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular disease among nonveteran and Veteran women. J Women Aging 2024;36(6):492-503
Date
04/25/2024Pubmed ID
38659158Pubmed Central ID
PMC11499287DOI
10.1080/08952841.2024.2336655Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85191247280 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 6 CitationsAbstract
We examined the prospective associations of social isolation and loneliness with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) among aging nonveteran and veteran women, and effect modification by veteran status. Participants with no history of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), or coronary heart failure from the Women's Health Initiative Extension Study II self-reported social isolation, loneliness, health behaviors, health status, and veteran status. CVD and CVD subevents were physician adjudicated. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the Interquartile Range (IQR) in social isolation (IQR = 1) and loneliness (IQR=.33) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for sociodemographic, health behavior, and health status characteristics. Veteran status was tested as an effect modifier. Among 52,442 women (Mean age = 79 ± 6.1; veterans n = 1023; 89.2% non-Hispanic White), 3579 major CVD events occurred over an average 5.8 follow-up years. Compared to nonveterans, veteran women reported higher levels of social isolation (p < .01) and loneliness (p < .01). The CVD HR was 1.07 (95% CI, 1.04-1.10) for the IQR in social isolation and 1.03 (95% CI, 1.10-1.06) for the IQR in loneliness. The HR for the IQR in both social isolation and loneliness was 1.10 (95% CI, 1.05-1.15). Social isolation was associated with CHD (HR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.21). The CHD HR for the IQR in social isolation was 1.12 (95% CI, 1.03-1.21). Associations did not differ by veteran status (all p-interactions > 0.08). Findings suggest that the adverse associations of social isolation and loneliness with CVD are similar among veteran and nonveteran women.
Author List
Yarish NM, Posis AIB, Nguyen S, Weitlauf J, Bellettiere J, Saquib N, Richey PA, Allison M, Kroenke C, Goveas JS, Coday M, LaCroix AZAuthor
Joseph S. Goveas MBBS, MD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAged, 80 and over
Cardiovascular Diseases
Female
Humans
Loneliness
Proportional Hazards Models
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Social Isolation
United States
Veterans
Women's Health
