The risk of social isolation and loneliness on progression from incident cardiovascular disease to subsequent depression

Abstract

Loneliness and social isolation are crucial triggers in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. This study aimed to explore the associations of loneliness and social isolation with the transition from incident CVD to subsequent depression. Multistate models were constructed to investigate the effects of loneliness and social isolation on the transitions from a healthy state to incident CVD, further to subsequent depression and to death in the UK Biobank cohort (N = 265,794). Participants in the loneliness group had a greater risk for the transition from incident CVD to subsequent depression (hazard ratio = 2.008; 95% confidence interval 1.751–2.351). The hazard ratios of the transition from incident CVD to subsequent depression were 1.148 (1.036–1.274) in the moderately isolated group and 1.173 (1.020–1.348) in the most isolated group. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting loneliness and social isolation to mitigate the risk of CVD and depression. Using multistate models, the authors examine the effects of loneliness and social isolation on the transition from a healthy state to cardiovascular disease, subsequent depression and death.