The Association Between Myocardial Infarction and Loneliness Among Adults in the Saudi Population: A Comparative Analytical Study
Hessah Alshammari, Norah Alshafi, Tharaa Alhowaish, Lina Almohsen, Dena Alsuhaibani, Hassan Alabdullatif, Sarah Mazi, Thamir Al-khlaiwiBackground & Aim
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a major global health crisis, accounting for a significant fraction of overall morbidity and mortality rates. While growing evidence indicates that poor cardiovascular health may be associated with higher loneliness, studies on this association within the Middle Eastern context, particularly in Saudi Arabia, are limited. Given the unique social and cultural characteristics of Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to examine the association of myocardial infarction (MI) and loneliness among adults in the country.
Methods
This comparative analytical study, using questionnaires, was conducted at King Khaled University Hospital in Riyadh. We recruited 173 Saudi adult patients aged between 18 and over 70 years with a confirmed diagnosis of MI and compared them with 446 Saudi adult healthy participants without CVD. Participants completed the validated Arabic translation of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and treatment‐related data were also collected. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association between high loneliness and MI (score ≥ 3).
Results
A high loneliness score was reported by 28.4% of all participants. Multivariable analysis identified statistically significant associations between loneliness and the presence of heart disease, younger age, physical inactivity, and smoking (OR = 4.88, 95% CI 2.46–9.67, p < 0.001). In cardiac patients, higher physical activity and better diabetes management were correlated with lower loneliness scores, whereas chronic kidney dysfunction significantly increased loneliness scores ( p = 0.03).
Conclusions
We found that, within the highly culturally and socially oriented population of Saudi Arabia, MI in adults was associated with greater loneliness compared to healthy participants. Loneliness is also significantly associated with smoking, physical inactivity, and comorbidities in MI patients. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored interventions that integrate psychosocial support into cardiac care, particularly for vulnerable subgroups.