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April 23, 2026Aging Clinical and Experimental ResearchOpen Access

Higher NYHA class linked to greater loneliness and social isolation in older adults with CVD.

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Why the study?

Social isolation and loneliness are public health concerns in older adults associated with heightened CVD risks, but perceived loneliness, social isolation, and social support in this group needed investigation.

Population

432 older adult patients with coronary heart disease in western Iran

Design

Cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study

Key result

Older adults with cardiovascular disease showed strong psychosocial correlations, with NYHA Class III patients reporting the highest loneliness (37.88) and Class IV the highest social isolation (16.73).

Authors

FDFatemeh DarabiNMNafiseh MontazeriAZArash Ziapour

Discussion

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Overview

May prompt clinical attention to loneliness in HF; leaves open benefits of interventions pending prospective trials.

Key Points

  • This research aims to explore the relationships between loneliness, social isolation, and social support among older adults with cardiovascular diseases.
  • Cross-sectional study design conducted in a hospital setting
  • Participants diagnosed with coronary heart disease underwent assessments using established scales
  • Statistical analyses performed with R software, including correlation and multivariate analyses.
  • Mean loneliness score was 31.74, indicating significant feelings of loneliness among participants
  • A strong correlation was observed among loneliness, social isolation, and social support
  • Factors like age, gender, and socioeconomic status significantly influenced the outcomes (p < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=432)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P
Population
432 older adults (aged ≥60 years, mean age 75.44, 55% male) with confirmed coronary heart disease, including heart failure of various etiologies (NYHA classes I-IV), referred to a university-affiliated tertiary cardiovascular hospital in western Iran.
O
Outcome
Perceived loneliness, social isolation, and social support measured by the Adult Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).patient reported

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

Older adults with severe cardiovascular disease experience complex psychosocial dynamics, where increased loneliness is paradoxically associated with higher perceived social support and lower social isolation, highlighting the need for targeted psychological interventions.

Limitations

  • Convenience sampling method
  • Restriction of data collection to a single hospital, limiting generalizability
  • Self-reported questionnaires introducing potential response bias
  • Cross-sectional design does not allow for examination of causal relationships
  • Some elderly participants experienced difficulties in completing the questionnaire
  • Convenience sampling limits generalizability

Cite This Study

Darabi et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease and heart failure) (n=432). Older adults with cardiovascular disease showed strong psychosocial correlations, with NYHA Class III patients reporting the highest loneliness (37.88) and Class IV the highest social isolation (16.73).

synapsesocial.com/papers/69e9b62685696592c86eade8https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-026-03379-3
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