Abstract
BACKGROUND: To explore the association of social isolation and loneliness with risk of incident osteoporosis; and test the modification effects of genetic susceptibility.</p>
METHODS: A total of 452 433 participants without osteoporosis at baseline were included from the UK Biobank cohort. Social isolation and loneliness were assessed at baseline via self-reported questionnaires. Cox regression models were used to observe the associations of social isolation and loneliness with risk of incident osteoporosis, as well as their joint associations with genetic susceptibility.</p>
RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 13.8 years, a total of 13 817 incident osteoporosis cases were recorded. Compared with participants with a social isolation index of 0, those with an index ≥2 had a higher risk of osteoporosis, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.18 (95% CI, 1.11-1.25) and a P -trend < 0.001. Compared to participants with an index of 0 for loneliness, the HR and 95% CI were 1.25 (95% CI, 1.17, 1.34) for those with a loneliness index of 2 ( P -trend < 0.001). In addition, we found that the increased risks of osteoporosis related to social isolation and loneliness were strengthened by the genetic susceptibility to osteoporosis.</p>
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that social isolation and loneliness are related to a higher risk of incident osteoporosis, and the associations were strengthened by the genetic susceptibility to osteoporosis.</p>