Loneliness and vascular biomarkers: the Dublin Healthy Ageing Study

✍ Scribed by C. O'Luanaigh; H. O'Connell; A.V. Chin; F. Hamilton; R. Coen; C. Walsh; J.B. Walsh; D. Coakley; A. Molloy; J. Scott; C.J. Cunningham; B.A. Lawlor

• Book ID: 102227272
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 120 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.2695

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Loneliness has been associated with poor physical health and a link has been suggested between the presence of loneliness, cardiovascular health and inflammatory markers.

Objective

To investigate the association between vascular disease biomarkers and loneliness in a community‐dwelling non‐demented elderly population.

Design

cross‐sectional community based assessment.

Participants

466 subjects with mean age 75.45 (SD, 6.06) years. 208 (44.6%) were male.

Results

Higher levels of HbA1c, but not other vascular biomarkers were independently associated with being lonely.

Conclusion

Loneliness was associated with raised levels of HbA1c in a community dwelling elderly population. The mechanism for this association has yet to be elucidated but may reflect an abnormal stress response in people who are lonely. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.