Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the relationship between loneliness and hypertension in older people.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting(s): Tabriz, the capital city of the East Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran.
Participants: A representative sample of≥60-year-old community dwellers. A total of 1362 participants (768 females and 594 males) were selected using the probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling method.
Outcome measures: Blood pressure, loneliness, and social support were assessed using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer, the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), respectively.
Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 81.0% among older adults (86.8% in women vs. 73.4% in men, P<0.001). In addition, 54% of respondents felt lonely. Loneliness was more prevalent in females than in males (58.7% vs. 47.9%, P<0.001). Hypertension was found to be associated with social loneliness score (OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.02 to 1.32), marital status (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.31 to 0.78), body mass index (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.07 to 1.15), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.03 to 2.31), and sleep quality score (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.06 to 1.19).
Conclusions: Social loneliness is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in older people. This highlights the importance of addressing psychosocial factors, especially social loneliness, when managing hypertension in older adults.