Social Isolation Significantly Increases Mortality Risk in Patients with Arthritis
A new multinational analysis published in Scientific Reports highlights a critical risk factor in arthritis care: social isolation.
Drawing on data from more than 16,000 individuals across 4 longitudinal cohorts, researchers found that socially isolated adults with arthritis—including both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis—face significantly higher mortality risk.
The study pooled data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). All participants self-reported a diagnosis of arthritis. Social isolation was assessed using standardized questionnaires, and mortality outcomes were tracked using cohort-specific follow-up methods.
Across all 4 cohorts, socially isolated individuals had a notably increased risk of mortality compared to their socially connected peers. In meta-analysis, social isolation was associated with a 42% higher risk of death (HR 1.42; 95% CI: 1.26–1.59). This pattern held in individual cohorts, including NHATS (HR 1.53), ELSA (HR 1.31), and CLHLS (HR 1.50), even after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities.
The relationship between isolation and mortality appeared to be dose-dependent. “With increasing social isolation score, the risk of mortality also increased in meta-analysis (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15–1.24),” the authors wrote. This association was again supported by individual datasets, including NHATS (HR 1.22) and CLHLS (HR 1.19).
The findings remained consistent across demographic subgroups, suggesting broad applicability. “Subgroup analysis results suggested that social isolation was independently associated with a higher likelihood of mortality in middle-aged and older adults with arthritis, regardless of gender, lifestyles, and chronic diseases,” the researchers concluded.
This study emphasizes the importance of screening for and addressing social isolation in rheumatologic care. While inflammation, joint damage, and pain are central to arthritis management, these results suggest that psychosocial factors such as social connectedness may be just as vital to long-term outcomes.
The authors encouraged clinicians to consider structured assessments of social support as part of comprehensive care plans for middle-aged and older adults with arthritis. Referrals to community support services or interventions to enhance social engagement may meaningfully improve survival outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Reference
Ma C, He S, Luo J, et al. Social isolation and risk of mortality in middle-aged and older adults with arthritis: a prospective cohort study of four cohorts. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):8073. Published online March 8, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-93030-4
