title: Population-level impact of loss on survivor mortality risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The loss of a loved one adversely affects the bereaved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the 2010 and 2012 waves of Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we estimate the risk for death in a 2-year span after the loss of a parent, spouse, or child for adults aged 50 to 70 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A respondent with a loss was twice as likely to die when compared similarly aged persons with no loss (OR 2.32; 95 % CI 1.14, 5.30). Loss of either a parent (OR 1.93; 95 % CI 1.01, 4.07), or a child (OR 1.77; 95 % CI 1.08, 2.96) also increased respondent mortality. This elevated risk persists after adjustment for gender and other high-risk health conditions. Any physical activity reduces survivor death rates during this critical period by more than 85 %.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Amara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ezeamama
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Cherie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA. tonimile@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miles
mesh_terms: D001601:Bereavement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012306:Risk; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Bereavement; Longevity; Population-level health