Observational studyThe journal of nutrition, health & aging2025
Prevalence and clinical significance of loneliness in older patients admitted to acute hospital wards.
Observational study in The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Relationship Between Loneliness and Geriatric Feelings of Burdensomeness in Hospitalized Older Adults.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2026Article
- The prevalence and influence of self-reported loneliness in the older with community-acquired pneumonia: a multi-center cohort study.BMC geriatrics · 2025Article
- Ipsa senectus morbus est? Approaching the unmet needs in geriatric depression: results from a national survey of medical experts.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveLoneliness represents a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of loneliness among hospitalized older patients, and its association with baseline characteristics and clinical post-discharge outcomes.
designMulticenter observational study, including a cross-sectional and a longitudinal phase.
settingAcute medical hospital wards of three Italian hospitals. PARTECIPANTS: Three hundred patients ≥65 years old. MEASUREMENTS: A questionnaire was administered to participants, including socio-demographic data, and information on loneliness (assessed with 3-item UCLA scale and 6-item De Jong Gierveld and Van Tilburg Loneliness scale-DJGT), cognitive, emotional and functional level. Rehospitalizations and mortality were evaluated 1 and 6 months after discharge.
resultsA high prevalence of loneliness emerged with both scales (63% with UCLA, 60% with DJGT). At multiple linear regression analyses, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was independently associated with UCLA (B coeff. 0.46, p < 0.001) and DJGT (B coeff. 0.51, p < 0.001) scales, and Basic Activities of Daily Living with UCLA scale (B coeff. -0.21, p = 0.02). In longitudinal analysis, global loneliness scores were not associated with mortality and rehospitalization risk, while the item n.6 of DJGT scale ("There are enough people I feel close to") was independently associated with higher mortality risk within 1 and 6 months from discharge (OR 4.6, 95%C.I. 1.64-12.92; OR 4.38, 95%C.I. 1.83-10.48, respectively).
conclusionLoneliness was reported by more than half of older adults hospitalized in acute medical wards, and was associated with depressive symptoms and disability. The perception of scarce social ties was associated with higher mortality risk. Awareness of the "loneliness" phenomenon should be increased also in clinical settings.
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