TY - ABST

T1 - The association of loneliness and social isolation with healthcare utilization in Denmark

AU - Christensen, J.

AU - Pedersen, S. S.

AU - Andersen, C. M.

AU - Qualter, P.

AU - Lund, R.

AU - Lasgaard, M.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - ObjectivesThe present prospective cohort study investigated the association of loneliness and social isolation (SI) with healthcare utilization (HCU) in the general population over time.MethodsData from the 2013 Danish “How are you?’ survey (n = 29,472) were combined with individual-level register data from the National Danish Patient Registry and the Danish National Health Service Registry over a 6-year follow-up period (2013-2018). Negative binomial regression analyses were performed while adjusting for baseline demographics and chronic disease.ResultsLoneliness measured at baseline was significantly associated with more GP contacts (incident-rate ratio (IRR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.02, 1.04]), more emergency treatments (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.10]), more emergency admissions (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.06]), and hospital admission days (IRR=1.05, 95% CI [1.00, 1.11]) across the 6-year follow-up period. No significant associations were found between social isolation and HCU with one minor exception, in which SI was associated with fewer planned outpatient treatments (IRR = .97, 95% CI [.94, .99]).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that loneliness is a risk factor for certain types of HCU, independent of social isolation, baseline demographics, and chronic disease.

AB - ObjectivesThe present prospective cohort study investigated the association of loneliness and social isolation (SI) with healthcare utilization (HCU) in the general population over time.MethodsData from the 2013 Danish “How are you?’ survey (n = 29,472) were combined with individual-level register data from the National Danish Patient Registry and the Danish National Health Service Registry over a 6-year follow-up period (2013-2018). Negative binomial regression analyses were performed while adjusting for baseline demographics and chronic disease.ResultsLoneliness measured at baseline was significantly associated with more GP contacts (incident-rate ratio (IRR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.02, 1.04]), more emergency treatments (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.10]), more emergency admissions (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.06]), and hospital admission days (IRR=1.05, 95% CI [1.00, 1.11]) across the 6-year follow-up period. No significant associations were found between social isolation and HCU with one minor exception, in which SI was associated with fewer planned outpatient treatments (IRR = .97, 95% CI [.94, .99]).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that loneliness is a risk factor for certain types of HCU, independent of social isolation, baseline demographics, and chronic disease.

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckac130.186

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckac130.186

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

VL - 32

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

SN - 1101-1262

IS - Supplement 3

ER -