Loneliness: an emerging factor in degenerative valvular heart disease

By Elodie Vaz | Published on April 21, 2026 | 3 min read


Valvular heart disease refers to a dysfunction of one of the four heart valves, impairing intracardiac blood flow. In its degenerative form, it is characterized by progressive stiffening or leakage of the valves, often linked to aging. This condition represents a major public health issue. According to the American Heart Association, more than 440,000 deaths were associated with it in the United States between 1999 and 2020. The most common forms include aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, which may progress to heart failure and require valve replacement.  

While many causes have been identified, a new study published on April 15 in the Journal of the American Heart Association explores a relatively understudied risk factor: loneliness.  

“Degenerative valvular diseases are becoming increasingly common with population aging,” said Professor Zhaowei Zhu, lead author of the study and associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Changsha, China. “Our findings suggest that loneliness may be an independent and potentially modifiable risk factor for degenerative valvular disease.” The objective was to comprehensively assess the links between loneliness, social isolation, and the incidence of these conditions.

 Loneliness and social isolation at the heart of the research

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 463,000 participants from the UK Biobank. At baseline, self-reported questionnaires were used to assess perceived loneliness and objective social isolation. Participants were then followed for a median of 14 years, with new cases of valvular disease identified through medical records. The study accounted for numerous confounding factors, including traditional cardiovascular risks and genetic predisposition.  

During follow-up, more than 11,000 cases of degenerative valvular disease were recorded, including around 4,200 cases of aortic stenosis and 4,700 cases of mitral regurgitation.  

Analyses show that individuals reporting the highest levels of loneliness had a significantly increased risk: +19% for all valvular diseases, +21% for aortic stenosis, and +23% for mitral regurgitation.  

This effect persisted independently of genetic risk. In contrast, social isolation—defined by objective criteria such as living alone or having few social contacts—was not associated with increased risk.

Between lifestyle and biological vulnerability

Health behaviors play an important mediating role. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and sleep disorders partly contribute to this association. “Our findings suggest that addressing loneliness may help delay disease progression,” said Professor Cheng Wei, “and ultimately reduce the long-term clinical and economic burden of valvular diseases.”  

The study also highlights the biological dimension of the phenomenon. “Loneliness, particularly chronic loneliness, is a stressor that can harm health,” noted Dr. Crystal Wiley Cené. She emphasizes that “loneliness is not just an emotion,” but a health determinant in its own right.  

Caring for social connection: a public health challenge

This observational study identifies loneliness as an independent and potentially modifiable risk factor for degenerative valvular disease. It underscores the need to integrate psychosocial dimensions into cardiovascular risk assessment.

However, the authors point out the inherent limitations of this type of research: no proven causal relationship, single-time measurement of loneliness, and limited representativeness of the study population.  

Nevertheless, these findings open new avenues for research. “Future studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms linking loneliness and valvular degeneration,” concludes Cheng Wei. More broadly, they raise questions about prevention strategies: could addressing loneliness become a therapeutic lever in cardiovascular disease?  



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