Loneliness Linked to Increased Risk of Degenerative Heart Valve Disease

Unhealthy lifestyle habits play a major role in the connection between loneliness and valvular heart disease

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:07am

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image showing the internal structure of a human heart valve, with subtle signs of degeneration and damage, conveying the unseen effects of loneliness on the cardiovascular system.An X-ray view of a damaged heart valve, highlighting the hidden physiological toll that loneliness can take on cardiovascular health.Oakland Today

New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that adults who reported feeling lonely had a higher risk of developing degenerative heart valve disease, even after accounting for traditional heart disease risk factors and genetics. However, social isolation, defined as living alone or having limited social contact, was not associated with increased valvular heart disease risk.

Why it matters

Valvular heart disease is a growing public health concern as populations age, and these findings suggest that loneliness may be an independent and potentially modifiable risk factor. Identifying loneliness as a new risk factor 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 details

Researchers reviewed data from about 463,000 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank. Participants completed questionnaires to assess loneliness and social isolation when they enrolled. Over a median follow-up of nearly 14 years, more than 11,000 new cases of degenerative valvular heart disease were diagnosed. Compared to those with minimal loneliness, people with the highest levels of loneliness had a 19% higher risk of developing any degenerative valvular heart disease, a 21% higher risk of aortic valve stenosis, and a 23% higher risk of mitral valve regurgitation. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors like obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity partially explained the relationship between loneliness and valvular heart disease.

  • Participants were followed for a median of nearly 14 years.
  • The study data was collected between 2006 and 2020.

The players

Zhaowei Zhu

An associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University in Changsha, Hunan, China, and the study's lead author.

Cheng Wei

A Ph.D. candidate in cardiovascular medicine at The Second Xiangya Hospital and a study co-author.

Crystal Wiley Cené

An American Heart Association volunteer expert who led the writing group on perceived isolation and cardiovascular disease, and was not involved in this study. She is a professor of medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego and chair elect of the Association's Implementation Science Committee for the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention.

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What they’re saying

“Our findings suggest that loneliness may be an independent and potentially modifiable risk factor for degenerative valvular heart disease.”

— Zhaowei Zhu, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine

“Our results suggest that addressing loneliness could help delay disease progression, postpone surgical interventions such as valve replacement, and ultimately reduce the long-term clinical and economic burden of valvular heart disease.”

— Cheng Wei, Ph.D. Candidate in Cardiovascular Medicine

“Loneliness, particularly chronic loneliness, is a stressor for the body that can damage people's health. Patients and health care professionals need to understand the importance of talking about loneliness and social disconnectedness as a health risk, not a moral failing or sign of weakness.”

— Crystal Wiley Cené, Professor of Medicine and Public Health

What’s next

Future studies are needed to confirm these findings in more diverse populations, understand the biological mechanisms linking loneliness and valve degeneration, and test whether interventions that reduce loneliness can lower the risk of valvular heart disease.

The takeaway

This study highlights the importance of addressing loneliness as a potential risk factor for degenerative heart valve disease. By recognizing loneliness as a health issue and encouraging patients to discuss feelings of social isolation with their healthcare providers, we may be able to delay disease progression and reduce the long-term burden of valvular heart disease.