Social isolation, loneliness may increase heart disease risk

Amid the pandemic, many people are experiencing social isolation and loneliness, which may spiral into chronic states

A new study has found that there is an almost 27 per cent increase in heart disease risk in postmenopausal women who experience both high levels of social isolation and loneliness. The findings revealed that social isolation and loneliness increased cardiovascular disease risk by eight per cent and five per cent, respectively. If women experienced high levels of both, their risk rose 13 per cent to 27 per cent compared to women who reported low levels of social isolation and low levels of loneliness.