Frequent loneliness linked to more heart disease and stroke
Stroke prevalence was 7.3% among persistently lonely adults versus 2.7% among never-lonely adults in a national survey.
Our read
Populations- Studied:
- Cross-sectional study of 31,470 US adults, against never-lonely adults
- What changed:
- Stroke prevalence was higher among adults reporting persistent loneliness: 7.3% against 2.7% in never-lonely adults
- The catch:
- Heart disease or stroke may have contributed to loneliness rather than the reverse
- Why it’s aging research:
- It bears on staying healthy in midlife and later life.
Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Among 31,470 US adults in the 2024 National Health Interview Survey, researchers examined loneliness and disease prevalence in an observational analysis. They adjusted for age, sex, race and ethnicity, income and education.
Adults reporting persistent loneliness had higher prevalence of coronary heart disease, which affects the heart’s blood supply, than never-lonely adults: 8.0% versus 4.9%. Diabetes prevalence was 16.2% versus 9.8%, and high blood pressure prevalence was 37.5% versus 32.1%. More frequent loneliness was associated with greater disease burden even after adjustment. The researchers defined social isolation as loneliness at least sometimes combined with rarely or never having emotional support. Socially isolated adults had 71% higher adjusted stroke prevalence than socially connected adults.
Why it matters
Heart disease and stroke threaten health as people age. The authors suggested social connection as a potentially modifiable target for cardiovascular prevention.
Caveats
The survey assessed loneliness and existing disease, so heart disease or stroke may have contributed to loneliness rather than the reverse. The findings were reported in an AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 conference abstract.
The paper
Yale New Haven Health/Bridgeport Hosp
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract, Nov 2, 2026
Presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2026, abstract 14467
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