Key result
Living alone significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular outcomes (HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.10-1.36; P=0.000), with men being more prone to cardiovascular mortality than women.
Why the study?
It was unclear whether living alone increases the risk of cardiovascular outcomes.
Does living alone increase the risk of cardiovascular outcomes?
Meta-Analysis (n=424,286)
Yes
Does living alone increase the risk of cardiovascular outcomes?
Hazard Ratio: 1.22 (95% CI 1.1–1.36)
p-value: p=0.000
Living alone is associated with a 22% increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes, with a more pronounced effect on cardiovascular mortality in men.
Living alone linked to higher CV risk especially in men; supports social isolation research but leaves practice change open.
To explore whether living alone could increase the risk of cardiovascular outcomes. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from their inception to 5 October 2020. Cohort studies evaluating the relationship between living alone and cardiovascular outcomes were included. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore which characteristics would affect the relationship. A total of 13 effect sizes obtained from 11 studies were included and spanned from 1993 to 2019, with 424,286 participants. This study found that living alone increased the risk of cardiovascular outcomes (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10–1.36, I2 = 80.3%, P = 0.000). In subgroup analyses, living alone increased the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients from Europe (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.17–1.61, I2 = 76.2%, P = 0.000), but not increased in Asia (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.83–1.66, I2 = 76.2%, P = 0.000) and multiple regions (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.96–1.08, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.738). For different cardiovascular outcomes, living alone has statistical significance in increasing the risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05–1.46, I2 = 84.0%, P = 0.000) and myocardial infarction (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.21, I2 = 29.6%, P = 0.213). The risk of cardiovascular mortality in men was higher than women (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.24–1.86 vs HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.85–1.20; P < 0.05 for interaction). Sensitivity analysis suggested that the results of the meta-analysis were robust. In conclusion, living alone could increase the risk of cardiovascular outcomes and men were more prone to cardiovascular mortality and myocardial infarction.
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Gan et al. (2021) conducted a meta-analysis in Cardiovascular outcomes (n=424,286). Living alone vs. Not living alone was evaluated on Cardiovascular outcomes (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.36, p=0.000). Living alone significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular outcomes (HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.10-1.36; P=0.000), with men being more prone to cardiovascular mortality than women.
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