AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 AbstractNov 9, 2026, 02:09 GMT

High social needs linked to cardiovascular risk in older adults

Combined event rates were 7.0 and 7.2 per 100 person-years in isolated and resource-limited groups, respectively, versus 4.9 in the low-need group.

Paper by Aaron L. Troy, Thomas K. Mensah Cudjoe, Karen J Bandeen-Roche, +7Chiadi Ericson Ndumele · Johns Hopkins Hospital · Johns Hopkins University

A large heart sits among people, with dark hearts near isolated figures and a nearly empty plate, and pale hearts beside a close-knit group.

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Populations

Studied:: Cohort study of 3,444 community-dwelling US Medicare beneficiaries, seven years
What changed:: Cardiovascular events or death occurred at 7.0 and 7.2 per 100 person-years in high-need groups versus 4.9 with low needs
The catch:: Existing cardiovascular and age-related conditions could account for higher event rates in high-need groups

Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News

Paper

Among 3,444 older, community-dwelling US Medicare beneficiaries, an observational cohort study examined patterns of social need and cardiovascular outcomes over seven years. Researchers linked 2015 survey data to Medicare claims through 2022. They compared a low-need group with two high-need groups characterized by social and digital isolation or limited resources.

Both high-need groups had higher rates of a combined outcome: hospitalization for heart or blood vessel disease, heart attack, stroke or death from any cause. Person-years add together each participant’s follow-up time. The associations remained after adjustment for age, sex and race or ethnicity. Both groups also had higher risks of hospitalization for heart or blood vessel disease. However, the resource-limited group had a lower risk of heart attack.

Why it matters

Social needs in later life may help inform cardiovascular care. The authors called for research on care models and interventions tailored to different patterns of need.

Caveats

The models adjusted for demographic factors, but both high-need groups had more existing cardiovascular and age-related conditions, which may have contributed to their higher event rates. These conference-abstract findings covered community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries, not older adults living in institutions.