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Social isolation, C-reactive protein, and coronary heart disease mortality among community-dwelling adults

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  • Heffner, Kathi L.
  • Waring, Molly E.
  • Roberts, Mary B.
  • Eaton, Charles B.
  • Gramling, Robert

Abstract

Social isolation confers increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) events and mortality. In two recent studies, low levels of social integration among older adults were related to higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, suggesting a possible biological link between social isolation and CHD. The current study examined relationships among social isolation, CRP, and 15-year CHD death in a community sample of US adults aged 40 years and older without a prior history of myocardial infarction. A nested case-cohort study was conducted from a parent cohort of community-dwelling adults from the southeastern New England region of the United States (N = 2321) who were interviewed in 1989 and 1990. CRP levels were measured from stored sera provided by the nested case-cohort (n = 370), which included all cases of CHD death observed through 2005 (n = 48), and a random sample of non-cases. We found that the most socially isolated individuals had two-and-a-half times the odds of elevated CRP levels compared to the most socially integrated. In separate logistic regression models, both social isolation and CRP predicted later CHD death. The most socially isolated continued to have more than twice the odds of CHD death compared to the most socially integrated in a model adjusting for CRP and more traditional CHD risk factors. The current findings support social isolation as an independent risk factor of both high levels of CRP and CHD death in middle-aged adults without a prior history of myocardial infarction. Prospective study of inflammatory pathways related to social isolation and mortality are needed to fully delineate whether and how CRP or other inflammatory markers contribute to mechanisms linking social isolation to CVD health.

Suggested Citation

  • Heffner, Kathi L. & Waring, Molly E. & Roberts, Mary B. & Eaton, Charles B. & Gramling, Robert, 2011. "Social isolation, C-reactive protein, and coronary heart disease mortality among community-dwelling adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(9), pages 1482-1488, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:72:y:2011:i:9:p:1482-1488
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Yang, Yang Claire & Schorpp, Kristen & Harris, Kathleen Mullan, 2014. "Social support, social strain and inflammation: Evidence from a national longitudinal study of U.S. adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 124-135.
    3. Ileana CIOBANU & Mihaela ZAMFIR & Andreea Georgiana MARIN & Mihai Viorel ZAMFIR & Rozeta DRAGHICI & Alina ILIESCU & Laszlo IRSAY & Mihai BERTEANU, 2021. "Ageing in COVID era Social isolation risk factors, outcomes and smart solutions," Smart Cities International Conference (SCIC) Proceedings, Smart-EDU Hub, Faculty of Public Administration, National University of Political Studies & Public Administration, vol. 9, pages 409-424, November.
    4. Xie, Xiaoxiao & Huo, Liang'an, 2024. "Co-evolution dynamics between information and epidemic with asymmetric activity levels and community structure in time-varying multiplex networks," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    5. Kenny, Kathleen S. & Barrington, Clare, 2018. "“People just don't look at you the same way”: Public stigma, private suffering and unmet social support needs among mothers who use drugs in the aftermath of child removal," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 209-216.

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