Social isolation and risk of heart disease and stroke: analysis of two large UK prospective studies
Analysis (n=938,558) found social isolation has little direct effect on risk of developing CHD/stroke, but it does contribute to likelihood of dying from these conditions before reaching hospital, particularly among those who live alone, perhaps due to absence of immediate help.
Source:
The Lancet Public Health
SPS commentary:
A commentary notes the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop a more comprehensive view of the health consequences of social isolation and the study findings provide an important contribution to this task. It suggests that with a better understanding of social isolation, and a focus on internet-based surveillance and telemedicine interventions, prevention of the devastating, and specifically fatal, health effects of such isolation might be possible.