Loneliness linked to increased risk of degenerative heart valve disease

Heart valve disease occurs when one of the four heart valves stops functioning normally. Over time, they can become rigid or, conversely, close loosely, which disrupts normal blood flow. Previous scientific statements from the American Heart Association have noted that social isolation and lack of communication are associated with a higher risk of premature death and other adverse health outcomes. However, the new study is one of the first large-scale projects to study in detail the connection specifically between loneliness and the development of degenerative heart valve diseases.

About 463 thousand adults from the British Biobank participated in the work. At baseline, participants filled out questionnaires assessing levels of loneliness and social isolation. The researchers then followed them for nearly 14 years, recording new diagnoses of heart disease based on medical data. During the observation period, more than 11 thousand cases of degenerative heart valve diseases were identified. Among them, about 4,200 cases were aortic valve stenosis – a narrowing of the valve that makes it difficult for blood to exit the heart, and almost 4,700 cases – mitral regurgitation, in which the valve between the left parts of the heart does not close completely and the blood partially returns back.

The analysis found that 72% of participants experienced low levels of loneliness, while 28% reported elevated levels. Compared to people with the least amount of loneliness, those who experienced the most loneliness had a 19% higher risk of developing heart valve disease, a 21% higher risk of aortic valve stenosis, and a 23% higher risk of mitral regurgitation. However, social isolation as a separate factor did not show a significant relationship with the risk of developing these diseases. It was also found that loneliness increases risk regardless of genetics, but the combination of a high genetic risk and a strong feeling of loneliness is associated with the highest likelihood of developing pathology.

The researchers also noted that part of this relationship may be due to lifestyle: Bad habits, low physical activity, sleep disturbances and other factors partially strengthen the link between loneliness and heart disease.