title: Loneliness as a risk factor for hypertension in later life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to determine the impact of loneliness on hypertension in later life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study are derived from a sample of 1,880 older Malaysians via a cross-sectional survey entitled "Patterns of Social Relationships and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Persons in Peninsular Malaysia." Loneliness is assessed by the PGCMS item, "How much do you feel lonely?" Data analysis is carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly one third of respondents report high level of loneliness. The overall prevalence of hypertension is 39% (95% CI=36.9-41.3). Logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographic factors and several chronic medical conditions, shows that loneliness significantly increases likelihood of hypertension in later life (OR=1.31, p≤.05, 95% CI=1.04-1.66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show loneliness as a major risk factor for hypertension and call for health care professionals to be aware of the negative physiological effects of loneliness in old age.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gerontology, Department of Resource Management & Consumer Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yadollah Abolfathi
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Momtaz
authors.forename: Tengku Aizan
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Suraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yusoff
authors.forename: Rahimah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Sen Tyng
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Nurizan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yahaya
authors.forename: Siti Suhailah
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abdullah
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors