Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Geriatrics
Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

The differential impact of subjective and objective aspects of social engagement on cardiovascular risk factors

Authors: Yumiko Kamiya, Brendan Whelan, Virpi Timonen, Rose Anne Kenny

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

This article provides new insights into the impact of social engagement on CVD risk factors in older adults. We hypothesized that objective (social participation, social ties and marital status) and subjective (emotional support) aspects of social engagement are independently associated with objective measures of cardiovascular risk.

Methods

Data from the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA) were analyzed. The effects of social participation, social ties, marital status, and emotional support on hypertension, obesity, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen were estimated by logistic regression controlling for age, sex, education, physical function, depression, cardiovascular disease, other chronic diseases, physical activity, and smoking.

Results

Social participation is a consistent predictor of low risk for four risk factors, even after controlling for a wide range of covariates. Being married is associated with lower risk for hypertension. Social ties and emotional support are not significantly associated with any of the cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that participation in social activities has a stronger association with CV risk factors than marital status, social ties or emotional support. Different forms of social engagement may therefore have different implications for the biological risk factors involved.
Literature
1.
Allender S, Scarborough P, Peto V, Rayner M, Leal J, Luengo-Fernandez R, Gray A: European cardiovascular disease statistics 2008. 2008, The European Heart Network (EHN)
2.
Berkman LF, Syme SL: Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: a nine-year follow-up study of Alameda County residents. Am J Epidemiol. 1979, 109 (2): 186-204.PubMed
3.
House JS, Landis K, Umberson D: Social relationships and health. Science. 1988, 241: 540-545. 10.1126/science.3399889.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Seeman T, Kaplan G, Knudsen L, et al: Social network ties and mortality among the elderly in the Alameda County Study. Am J Epidemiol. 1987, 126: 714-723.PubMed
5.
Ford E, Loucks E, Berkman L: Social integration and concentrations of C-reactive protein among US adults. Ann Epidemiol. 2006, 16 (2): 78-84. 10.1016/j.annepidem.2005.08.005.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Eng P, Rimm E, Fitzmaurice G, Kawachi I: Social ties and change in social ties in relation to subsequent total and cause-specific mortality and coronary heart disease incidence in men. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2002, 155 (8): 700-709. 10.1093/aje/155.8.700.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Cohen S: Psychosocial models of the role of social support in the etiology of physical disease. Health Psychol. 1988, 7 (3): 269-297. 10.1037/0278-6133.7.3.269.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Broman C: Social relationships and health-related behavior. J Behav Med. 1993, 16: 335-350. 10.1007/BF00844776.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Broman CL: Social relationships and health-related behavior. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 1993, 16 (4): 335-350. 10.1007/BF00844776.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Mermelstein R, Cohen S, Lichtenstein E, et al: Social support and smoking cessation and maintenance. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1986, 54: 447-453. 10.1037/0022-006X.54.4.447.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Murray R, Johnston J, Dolce J, et al: Social support for smoking cessation and abstinence: the Lung Health Study. Addict Behav. 1995, 20: 159-170. 10.1016/S0306-4603(99)80001-X.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Sanson-Fisher R, Clover K: Compliance in the treatment of hypertension: a need for action. Am J Hypertens. 1995, 8 (10): 82S-88S. 10.1016/0895-7061(95)00195-6.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Orth-Gomer K, Rosengren A, Wilhelmsen L: Lack of social support and incidence of coronary heart disease in middle-aged Swedish men. Psychosom Med. 1993, 55 (1): 37-43.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Kawachi I, Colditz G, Ascherio A, et al: A prospective study of social networks in relation to total mortality and cardiovascular disease in men in the USA. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1996, 50: 245-251. 10.1136/jech.50.3.245.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
McIntosh W, Shifflett P, Picou J: Social support, stressful events, strain, dietary intake, and the elderly. Med Care. 1989, 27 (2): 140-153. 10.1097/00005650-198902000-00005.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Toner H, Morris J: A social-psychological perspective of dietary quality in later adulthood. J Nutr Elder. 1992, 11 (4): 35-53. 10.1300/J052v11n04_04.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Cohen S: Social relationships and health. Am Psychol. 2004, 59 (8): 676-684. 10.1037/0003-066X.59.8.676.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Uchino BN: Social support and health: a review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. J Behav Med. 2006, 29 (4): 377-387. 10.1007/s10865-006-9056-5.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Loucks EB, Berkman LF, Gruenewald TL, Seeman TE: Social integration is associated with fibrinogen concentration in elderly men. Psychosom Med. 2005, 67 (3): 353-358. 10.1097/01.psy.0000160482.89163.e8.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Thoits PA: Life stress, social support, and psychological vulnerability: epidemiological considerations. J Community Psychol. 1982, 10 (4): 341-362. 10.1002/1520-6629(198210)10:4<341::AID-JCOP2290100406>3.0.CO;2-J.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Cornwell EY, Waite LJ: Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, and Health among Older Adults. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 2009, 50: 31-48. 10.1177/002214650905000103.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
22.
Lillard L, Waite LJ: Til Death Do Us Part: Marital Disruption and Mortality. American Journal of Sociology. 1995, 100: 1131-1156. 10.1086/230634.CrossRef
23.
Thoits PA, Hewitt LN: Volunteer Work and Well-Being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 2001, 42: 115-131. 10.2307/3090173.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Cacioppo JT, Hughes ME, Waite LJ, Hawkley LC, Thisted RA: Loneliness as a Specific Risk Factor for Depressive Symptoms: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses. Psychology and Aging. 2006, 21: 140-151. 10.1037/0882-7974.21.1.140.CrossRefPubMed
25.
26.
Barth J, Scheneider S, Känel Rv: Lack of social support in the aetiology and prognosis of coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2010, 72: 229-238. 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181d01611.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Kristensen P: Bias from Nondifferential but Dependent Misclassification of Exposure and Outcome. Epidemiology. 1992, 3 (3): 210-215. 10.1097/00001648-199205000-00005.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Berkman LF, Kawachi I: Social Epidemiology. 2000, New York: Oxford University Press
29.
Benetos A, Thomas F, Safar ME, Bean KE, Guize L: Should diastolic and systolic blood pressure be considered for cardiovascular risk evaluation: a study in middle-aged men and women?. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2001, 37 (1): 163-168. 10.1016/S0735-1097(00)01092-5.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Eckel RH: Obesity and Heart Disease A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Nutrition Committee, American Heart Association. Circulation. 1997, 96: 3248-3250.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Ridker PM: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: potential adjunct for global risk assessment in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2001, 103 (13): 1813-11818.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Cook N, Buring J, Ridk P: The effect of including C-reactive protein in cardiovascular risk prediction models for women. Annals of internal medicine. 2006, 4 (145): 21-29.CrossRef
33.
Ridker PMGR, Hennekens CH: C-reactive protein adds to the predictive value of total and HDL cholesterol in determining risk of first myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1998, 97: 2007-2011.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Ridker PM, Hennekens CH, Buring JE, Rifai N: C-Reactive Protein and Other Markers of Inflammation in the Prediction of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. New England Journal Medicine. 2000, 342: 836-843. 10.1056/NEJM200003233421202.CrossRef
35.
Maresca G, Blasio AD, Marchioli R, Minno GD: Measuring plasma fibrinogen to predict stroke and myocardial infarction. Arteriosclerose Thrombose Vascular Biology. 1999, 19: 1368-1377.CrossRef
36.
Collaboration FS, Kaptoge S, White IR, GThompson S, Wood AM, Lewington S, Lowe GD, Danesh J: Associations of plasma fibrinogen levels with established cardiovascular disease risk factors, inflammatory markers, and other characteristics: individual participant meta-analysis of 154,211 adults in 31 prospective studies: the fibrinogen studies collaboration. American journal of epidemiology. 2007, 166 (8): 867-79. 10.1093/aje/kwm191. Epub 2007 Sep 4., 15(8):867-879CrossRef
37.
Puts MT, Visser M, Twisk JW, Deeg DJ, Lips P: Endocrine and inflammatory markers as predictors of frailty. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005, 63 (4): 403-411. 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2005.02355.x.CrossRef
38.
Aviles RJ, Martin DO, Apperson-Hansen C, Houghtaling PL, Rautaharju P, Kronmal RA, Tracy RP, Van Wagoner DR, Psaty BM, Lauer MS, et al: Inflammation as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2003, 108 (24): 3006-3010. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000103131.70301.4F.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Cao JJ, Thach C, Manolio TA, Psaty BM, Kuller LH, Chaves PH, Polak JF, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Herrington DM, Price TR, et al: C-reactive protein, carotid intima-media thickness, and incidence of ischemic stroke in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Circulation. 2003, 108 (2): 166-170. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000079160.07364.6A.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Barzilay JI, Abraham L, Heckbert SR, Cushman M, Kuller LH, Resnick HE, Tracy RP: The relation of markers of inflammation to the development of glucose disorders in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Diabetes. 2001, 50 (10): 2384-2389. 10.2337/diabetes.50.10.2384.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Di Napoli M, Singh P: Is plasma fibrinogen useful in evaluating ischemic stroke patients?: why, how, and when. Stroke. 2009, 40 (5): 1549-1552. 10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.537084.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Collaboration FS, Kaptoge S, White I, Thompson S, Wood A, Lewington S, Lowe G, Danesh J: Associations of plasma fibrinogen levels with established cardiovascular disease risk factors, inflammatory markers, and other characteristics: individual participant meta-analysis of 154,211 adults in 31 prospective studies: the fibrinogen studies collaboration. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2007, 166 (8): 867-879. 10.1093/aje/kwm191.CrossRef
43.
Charuruks N, Laohajinda B, Rujiwanitgun S, Chaiworaporn M: Circulation J.Reference value for C-reactive protein and its distribution pattern in Thai adults. Circulation. 2005, 69 (3): 339-344. 10.1253/circj.69.339.CrossRef
44.
Meier-Ewert HK, Ridker PM, Rifai N, Price N, Dinges DF, Mullington JM: Absence of diurnal variation of C-reactive protein concentrations in healthy human subjects. Clinical Chemistry. 2001, 47 (30): 426-430.PubMed
45.
Rudnicka AR, Rumley A, Lowe G, Strachan D: Diurnal, seasonal, and blood-processing patterns in levels of circulating fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, C-reactive protein, tissue plasminogen activator, and von Willebrand factor in a 45-year-old population. Circulation. 2007, 115 (8): 996-1003. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.635169.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Graig R, Deverill C, Pickering K: Quality Control of blood saliva and urine analytes. Health Survey for England 2004, Methodology and Documentation. Edited by: Mindell J KS. 2006, London: The Information Center, 2: 34-41.
47.
Taylor R, LCC LC, Lessof C: Health, Wealth and Lifestyles of the Older Population in England; The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Technical Report. 2007, London: National Centre for Social Research
48.
Cheshire H, Cox K, Lessof C, Taylor R: Methodology. Retirement, Health and Relationships of the Older Population in England: the 2004 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Edited by: Banks J, Breeze E, Lessof C, Nazroo J. 2000, London: The Institute for Fiscal Studies
49.
NIH: The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. 1997, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National High Blood Pressure Education Program
50.
Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, Anderson JL, Cannon RO, Criqui M, Fadl YY, Fortmann SP, Hong Y, Myers GL, et al: Markers of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease: Application to Clinical and Public Health Practice: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2003, 107: 499-511. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000052939.59093.45.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Ridker P: C-reactive protein: a simple test to help predict risk of heart attack and stroke. Circulation. 2003, 23 (108): 81-85. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000093381.57779.67.CrossRef
52.
Koenig W: Fibrinogen in cardiovascular disease: an update. Thromb Haemost. 2003, 89: 601-609.PubMed
53.
Steffick D: Documentations of affective functioning measures in the Health and Retirement Study. HRS/AHEAD Documentation Report DR-005. 2000, Ann Arbor, MI: Survey Research Center University of Michigan
54.
Loucks EB, Berkman LF, Gruenewald TL, Seeman TE: Relation of social integration to inflammatory marker concentrations in men and women 70 to 79 years. Am J Cardiol. 2006, 97 (7): 1010-1016. 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.10.043.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Loucks EB, Sullivan LM, D'Agostino RB, Larson MG, Berkman LF, Benjamin EJ: Social networks and inflammatory markers in the Framingham Heart Study. J Biosoc Sci. 2006, 38 (6): 835-842. 10.1017/S0021932005001203.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Nabi H, Shipley M, Vahtera J, Hall M, Korkeila J, Marmot M, Kivimäki M, Singh-Manoux A: Effects of depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease and their interactive associations on mortality in middle-aged adults: the Whitehall II cohort study. Heart. 2010, 96 (20): 1645-50. 10.1136/hrt.2010.198507.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
57.
Heather Lett S, Blumenthal JA, Babyak MA, Sherwood A, Strauman T, Robins C, Newman MF: Depression as a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Treatment. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2004, 66: 305-315. 10.1097/01.psy.0000126207.43307.c0.PubMed
58.
Rugulies R: Depression as a predictor for coronary heart disease - A review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2002, 23 (1): 51-61. 10.1016/S0749-3797(02)00439-7.CrossRefPubMed
59.
Nicholson A, Kuper H, Hemingway H: Depression as an aetiologic and prognostic factor in coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of 6362 events among 146 538 participants in 54 observational studies. European Heart Journal. 2006, 27: 2763-2774. 10.1093/eurheartj/ehl338.CrossRefPubMed
60.
Kop WJ, Kuhl EA, Barasch E, Jenny NS, Gottlieb SS, Gottdiener JS: Association between depressive symptoms and fibrosis markers: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Brain, behavior, and immunity. 2010, 24 (2): 229-35. 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.09.017. 24(2):229-35CrossRefPubMed
61.
Bremmer MA, Beekman AT, Deeg DJ, Penninx BW, Dik MG, Hack CE, Hoogendijk WJ: Inflammatory markers in late-life depression: results from a population-based study. Journal of affective disorders. 2008, 106 (3): 249-255. 10.1016/j.jad.2007.07.002.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Ellaway A, Macintyre S: Is social participation associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors?. Soc Sci Med. 2007, 64 (7): 1384-1391. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.11.022.CrossRefPubMed
63.
Glass T, de Leon C, Marottol iR, Berkman L: Population based study of social and productive activities as predictors of survival among elderly Americans. BMJ. 1999, 319 (7208): 478-483.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
64.
Glei DA, Landau D, Goldman N, Chuang Y, Rodríquez G, Weinstein M: Participating in Social Activities Helps Preserve Cognitive Function: An Analysis of a Longitudinal, Population-Based Study of the Elderly. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2005, 34: 864-871. 10.1093/ije/dyi049.CrossRefPubMed
65.
Bassuk S, Glass T, Berkman LF: Social disengagement and incident of cognitive decline in the community-dwelling elderly. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1999, 131: 165-173.CrossRefPubMed
66.
Cornman JC, Goldman N, Glei DA, Weinstein M, Chang M: Social Ties and Perceived Support: Two Dimensions of Social Relationships and Health among the Elderly in Taiwan. Journal of Aging and Health. 2003, 15 (4): 616-644. 10.1177/0898264303256215.CrossRefPubMed
67.
Rosengren A, Wilhelmsen L, Welin L, Tsipogianni A, Teger-Nilsson A, Wedel H: Social influences and cardiovascular risk factors as determinants of plasma fibrinogen concentration in a general population sample of middle aged men. BMJ. 1990, 300: 634-638. 10.1136/bmj.300.6725.634.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
68.
Helminen A, Rankinen T, Väisänen S, Rauramaa R: Social network in relation to plasma fibrinogen. J Biosoc Sci. 1997, 29 (2): 129-139. 10.1017/S0021932097001296.CrossRefPubMed
69.
Mendes de Leon C, Glass T, Berkman L: Social Engagement and Disability in a Community Population of Older Adults. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2003, 157: 633-642. 10.1093/aje/kwg028.CrossRefPubMed
70.
71.
Robles T, Kiecolt-Glaser JK: The physiology of marriage: pathways to health. Physiology & behavior. 2003, 79 (3): 409-416.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The differential impact of subjective and objective aspects of social engagement on cardiovascular risk factors
Authors
Yumiko Kamiya
Brendan Whelan
Virpi Timonen
Rose Anne Kenny
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-10-81

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

BMC Geriatrics 1/2010 Go to the issue

Research article

Hypothermia predicts mortality in critically ill elderly patients with sepsis

Study protocol

Belt restraint reduction in nursing homes: design of a quasi-experimental study

Research article

Consequences of lower extremity and trunk muscle fatigue on balance and functional tasks in older people: A systematic literature review

Research article

Comparison of hemodynamic and nutritional parameters between older persons practicing regular physical activity, nonsmokers and ex-smokers

Research article

A prospective study of symptoms, function, and medication use during acute illness in nursing home residents: design, rationale and cohort description

Research article

Determining the association of medical co-morbidity with subjective and objective cognitive performance in an inner city memory disorders clinic: a retrospective chart review
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Watch now

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits