Key result
Lack of financial support is linked to ~30% higher risk of incident cardiovascular events.
Why the study?
To examine how different aspects of social relationships are associated with incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.
Does a lack of social relationships increase the risk of incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in adults without previous cardiovascular disease?
Cohort (n=4,139)
Yes
Does a lack of social relationships increase the risk of incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in adults without previous cardiovascular disease?
Hazard Ratio: 1.3 (95% CI 1.01–1.67)
Perceiving a lack of financial support and being socially isolated are independently associated with higher risks of incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, respectively.
May flag higher-risk adults without prior CVD; leaves open whether support interventions reduce events or mortality.
OBJECTIVE: To examine how different aspects of social relationships are associated with incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. METHODS: In 4139 participants from the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study without previous cardiovascular disease (mean (SD) age 59.1 (7.7) years, 46.7% men), the association of self-reported instrumental, emotional and financial support and social integration at baseline with incident fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality during 13.4-year follow-up was assessed in five different multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models: minimally adjusted model (adjusting for age, sex, social integration or social support, respectively); biological model (minimally adjusted+systolic blood pressure, low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycated haemoglobin, body mass index, antihypertensive medication, lipid-lowering medication and antidiabetic medication); health behaviour model (minimally adjusted+alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity); socioeconomic model (minimally adjusted+income, education and employment); and depression model (minimally adjusted+depression, antidepressants and anxiolytics). RESULTS: 339 cardiovascular events and 530 deaths occurred during follow-up. Lack of financial support was associated with an increased cardiovascular event risk (minimally adjusted HR=1.30(95% CI 1.01 to 1.67)). Lack of social integration (social isolation) was associated with increased mortality (minimally adjusted HR=1.47 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.97)). Effect estimates did not decrease to a relevant extent in any regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Perceiving a lack of financial support is associated with a higher cardiovascular event incidence, and being socially isolated is associated with increased all-cause mortality. Future studies should investigate how persons with deficient social relationships could benefit from targeted interventions.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gronewold et al. (2020) conducted a cohort in Free of previous cardiovascular disease (n=4,139). Lack of financial support vs. Adequate financial support was evaluated on Incident cardiovascular events (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.67). Perceiving a lack of financial support was associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular events (HR 1.30), while lack of social integration was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.47).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: