Social relationships and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure

dThe present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible effects of socia l relationships (perceived social support, and perceived social isolation) upon mortality risk among patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Pro portional hazard models were used to evaluate the effects of different soci al factors on mortality among 119 clinically stable patients (71.4% men; me an age 65.7 +/- 9.6 years) with symptomatic heart failure, recruited from a n outpatient cardiology practice. Twenty deaths were registered during the 24-month period of data collection, all from cardiac causes. Results indica ted that social isolation was a significant predictor of mortality (relativ e risk, 1.50, confidence interval (CI), 1.00 to 2.19; P < .038), controllin g for depressive symptoms, heart failure severity, and functional status an d age. Perceived intimate network support was marginally significantly asso ciated with increased risk of mortality in this population of CHF patients (relative risk, 0.60, Cl, 0.35-1.02; P < .06). However, the sample is small and caution in drawing conclusions should be exercised. Further research i s required in order to either disconfirm or confirm these findings, and to illuminate the mechanisms behind the relationships between social isolation and mortality. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.