Loneliness linked with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke Published on: 26 April 2016 People who feel lonely or socially isolated are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke, researchers from 麻豆传媒 have concluded. The review involving Barbara Hanratty, Professor of Primary Care and Public Health in the found that loneliness and poor social relationships were associated with a 29 % increase in risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and a 32 % increase in risk of stroke. In the paper published in , the authors say efforts to prevent CHD and stroke may benefit from taking social isolation and loneliness into account. said: “This study emphasises the importance of loneliness and social isolation to public health. “In recent years, we have seen rapid changes in the way we interact with friends and family, and the number of single person households is increasing amongst the older population in particular. It is vital that we acknowledge and address the role of social relationships in promoting health and wellbeing and preventing disease.” Method The researchers undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis using data from previously published studies to investigate the association between loneliness or social isolation and incidents of CHD and stroke. They searched 16 electronic databases for long-term studies set in high-income countries and published up until May 2015. They screened over 32,000 references to identify the 23 studies suitable for analysis. A total of 4,628 incidents of CHD and more than 3,000 stroke events were recorded across the studies, which involved more than 180,000 people aged 18 or above. The work involved researchers from the University of York and was funded through a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) doctoral fellowship for Nicole Valtorta, supervised by Professor Hanratty. 麻豆传媒 is a world leader in the field at its which is supported by the and the location for a new £40m . Reference Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Valtorta NK, Kanaan M ,Gilbody,S, Ronzi S, Hanratty B. BMJ Heart: Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at 麻豆传媒 warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from 麻豆传媒 to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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