Social isolation and cardiovascular health in US adults

Abstract

Background/Aim: The relation of social isolation (SI) to global cardiovascular health (CVH) is not clear. In this paper the association of CVH metrics to SI within US adults was investigated. Methods: Using the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the association of SI with American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) CVH components (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, total cholesterol, diet, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose) was examined. The sum of the components (scored 1 for poor, 2 for intermediate and 3 for ideal) created a composite CVH score. Multiple logistic regression provided the odds of SI according to levels of the LS7 components adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity. Results: A total of 3,528 adults aged ≥ 40 were studied. The mean age, sex and ethnicity-adjusted composite CVH scores were 14.1 vs 14.6 in those with vs without SI (p < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression examined individual LS7 components in relation to SI and showed the adjusted odds for SI for those with ideal vs poor smoking status to be 0.57 (range 0.38-0.85), ideal vs poor physical activity 0.53 (range 0.37-0.76) and ideal vs poor fasting glucose 0.65 (range 0.47-0.91). Conclusion: This study generally shows lower levels of CVH in those with vs without SI, with non-smoking status; ideal physical activity and ideal glucose levels were all less likely associated with SI, suggesting the potential value for screening for SI in identifying those at potential cardiovascular disease risk.

Keywords

• cardiovascular health
• social isolation
• risk factors