Healio (4/15, Swain) reports, “People reporting a high level of loneliness, but not those with social isolation, had elevated risk for developing valvular heart disease, according to the results of a prospective cohort study.” One researcher said, “Our findings suggest that loneliness may be an independent and potentially modifiable risk factor for degenerative valvular heart disease. Identifying this new risk is an important step in potentially preventing valve disease, which can lead to heart failure, reduced quality of life and the need for valve replacement surgery.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Related Links:
— “Loneliness tied to elevated risk for valvular heart disease,”Erik Swain, Healio, April 15, 2026