Research found that social isolation makes people 40 per cent more likely to have a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. The study started with no known case of cardiovascular disease for any of the participants. It went on for an average of 13 years. The researchers examined data from 4,316 individuals with an average age of 59.1 years.
To analyse the full impact of social isolation on physical health, researchers collected data on different types of social support, with social integration assessed based on marital status and cohabitation, contact with close friends and family, and membership of the political, religious, community, sports or professional organisations.
Study researcher Dr. Janine Gronewold stated, “What this study tells us is that having strong social relationships is of high importance for your heart health and similar to the role of classical protective factors such as having a healthy blood pressure, acceptable cholesterol levels, and normal weight.”
After 13.4 years of analysis, it was found that among the study participants, 339 cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or strokes and 530 deaths had occurred. Although other factors might have surely contributed to these events, lack of social contact increases the future risk of cardiovascular events by 44% and to increase the risk of death from all causes by 47%. The lack of financial support had increased the risk of cardiovascular events by 30%.
