Association between hypertension and social isolation based on the ELSA database

Background Hypertension (HTN) is a common cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a major contributor to disease burden and premature mortality worldwide. Social isolation (SI), as a significant social issue affecting health, is closely associated with the onset and progression of various diseases. However, there are relatively few studies that use HTN as an outcome variable. This study aims to clarify the association between SI and the onset and progression of HTN in middle-aged and older Methods This study is based on the 10th wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) multi-wave longitudinal data. It employs chi-square (χ2) tests, multivariate logistic regression, univariate logistic regression, ROC curves, and other multidimensional analyses to explore the association between SI and HTN in middle-aged and older adults aged 50 and above. Results The study found a significant association between SI and increased risk of HTN, making it a risk factor for HTN. In addition, stratified analysis found that SI was significantly associated with HTN in individuals aged 50 to 65 years, whereas this association was not significant in those aged > 65 years. Regardless of sex (male or female) or marital status (married or single), SI showed a significant correlation with HTN. When considering race, the significant association between SI and HTN was exclusively observed among whites. Additionally, SI was significantly linked to HTN in individuals with hardly any or no physical activity. Conclusion SI is an important risk factor for HTN, and its underlying causes are complex and diverse. Therefore, effective measures should be taken immediately to reduce SI.