Association of polypharmacy, fall-risk-increasing drugs, and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation among older adults

Background

Polypharmacy has been linked with social isolation and loneliness among older people. The roles of different medication groups to this association are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine associations of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 6714 adults aged 60 years and above living in southern Sweden. Participants were examined between 2001 and 2021. Associations of polypharmacy, FRIDs, and cardiovascular drugs with social isolation and loneliness were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

FRIDs were associated with feelings of loneliness (OR, 2.00; 95 % CI, 1.75–2.29; P < 0.001). In contrast, polypharmacy (OR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 0.93–1.25; P = 0.34), and cardiovascular drugs (OR, 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.84–1.13; P = 0.71) were not associated with loneliness. Neither polypharmacy (OR, 1.17; 95 % CI, 0.99–1.38; P = 0.07), FRIDs (OR, 1.10; 95 % CI, 0.95–1.28; P = 0.20), nor cardiovascular drugs (OR, 0.96; 95 % CI, 0.81–1.14; P = 0.63) were associated with social isolation.

Conclusions

FRIDs, but neither polypharmacy nor cardiovascular drugs, were associated with loneliness. Findings may indicate that medication class, not simply the share number of medications, is important in terms of loneliness.