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Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for the progression of frailty
 — the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Author(s)Catharine R Gale, Leo Westbury, Cyrus Cooper
Journal titleAge and Ageing, vol 47, no 3, May 2018
PublisherOxford University Press, May 2018
Pagespp 392-397
Sourcehttps://academic.oup.com/ageing
KeywordsLoneliness ; Isolation ; At risk ; Chronic illness ; Ill health ; Longitudinal surveys ; England.
AnnotationLoneliness and social isolation have been associated with mortality and functional decline in older people. The authors investigated whether loneliness or social isolation are associated with progression of frailty. Participants were 2,817 people aged 60+ from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Loneliness was assessed at Wave 2 using the Revised UCLA scale (short version). A social isolation score at Wave 2 was derived from data on living alone, frequency of contact with friends, family and children, and participation in social organisations. Frailty was assessed by the Fried phenotype of physical frailty at Waves 2 and 4, and by a frailty index at Waves 2-5. High levels of loneliness were found to be associated with an increased risk of becoming physically frail or pre-frail around 4 years later. Relative risk ratios (95% CI), adjusted for age, sex, level of frailty and other potential confounding factors at baseline were 1.74 (1.29, 2.34) for pre-frailty, and 1.85 (1.14, 2.99) for frailty. High levels of loneliness were not associated with change in the frailty index _ a broadly based measure of general condition _ over a mean period of 6 years. In the sample as a whole, there was no association between social isolation and risk of becoming physically frail or pre-frail, but high social isolation was associated with increased risk of becoming physically frail in men. Social isolation was not associated with change in the frailty index. The authors conclude that older people who experience high levels of loneliness are at increased risk of becoming physically frail. (RH).
Accession NumberCPA-190615224 A
ClassmarkDV: TP: CA3: CI: CH: 3J: 82

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