Loneliness and vascular biomarkers: the Dublin Healthy Ageing Study.

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.