Loneliness, a risk factor for diabetics

Loneliness is a risk factor for heart disease in patients with diabetes, according to research published in the European Heart Journal.

Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and are more likely to feel lonely than their healthy peers.

Previous studies in the general population have found that loneliness and social isolation are associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

A study of diabetes patients examined whether those who were lonely or socially isolated were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who were not.

“The quality of social contact appears to be important for heart health in people with diabetes. We should not discount loneliness in physical and emotional health. I would encourage diabetic patients who feel lonely to join a group or class and try to make friends with people who they share interests,” said Lu Qi of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Loneliness refers to the quality of social contacts, while isolation refers to the quantity.

Human beings not only require the presence of others, rather, they depend on meaningful social relations pbecome healthy adults.

The study involved 18,509 UK adults aged 37 to 73 with diabetes but no cardiovascular disease at baseline.

During a mean follow-up of 10.7 years, 3247 participants developed cardiovascular disease, of which 2771 had coronary heart disease and 701 had stroke (some patients had both).

Loneliness showed a weaker influence than kidney function, cholesterol and body mass index, but stronger than depression, smoking, physical activity and diet.

“Loneliness is ranked higher as a predisposing factor for cardiovascular diseases but various lifestyle habits. The findings suggest that asking diabetes patients about loneliness should become part of a standard assessment,” he said.