Prevalence and clinical significance of loneliness in older patients admitted to acute hospital wards.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Loneliness represents a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of loneliness among hospitalized older patients, and its association with baseline characteristics and clinical post-discharge outcomes.

Design

Multicenter observational study, including a cross-sectional and a longitudinal phase.

Setting

Acute medical hospital wards of three Italian hospitals.

Partecipants

Three hundred patients ≥65 years old.

Measurements

A questionnaire was administered to participants, including socio-demographic data, and information on loneliness (assessed with 3-item UCLA scale and 6-item De Jong Gierveld and Van Tilburg Loneliness scale-DJGT), cognitive, emotional and functional level. Rehospitalizations and mortality we

SUBMITTER: Brombo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12789831 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature