The Association of Social Isolation on the Risk of Stroke among Middle-aged and Older Adults in China.

The Association of Social Isolation on the Risk of Stroke among Middle-aged and Older Adults in China. Am J Epidemiol. 2019 May 31;: Authors: Zhou Z, Lin C, Ma J, Towne SD, Han Y, Fang Y Abstract Given there is limited research examining the specific role social isolation plays in stroke risk, we aimed to estimate the controlled direct effect of social isolation on stroke risk in China. A nationally representative sample (n=12,662) of individuals aged 45 and older (at baseline, 2011; with corresponding follow-ups in 2013 and 2015), was taken from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Stroke was assessed through self- or proxy-reported physician diagnosis. Social isolation was measured by incorporating marital status; frequency of contact with friends, family, and children; and participation in social activities. A marginal structural model with stabilized inverse probability weight was applied to examine the controlled direct effect of social isolation on stroke risk. Overall, 245 individuals had a stroke within the 4-year timeline under study. The total effect model indicated that individuals experiencing social isolation had a 64% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 2.13) increased risk of stroke. The results from the marginal structural model indicated that individuals experiencing social isolation had an increased risk of stroke (odds ratio=2.39, 95% CI: 1.49-3.82) after adjusting for depression. Interventions to r...
Source: Am J Epidemiol - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Tags: Am J Epidemiol Source Type: research