RT Journal
A1 Gopinath B, Rochtchina E, Anstey KJ, Mitchell P
T1 LIving alone and risk of mortality in older, community-dwelling adults
JF JAMA Internal Medicine
JO JAMA Internal Medicine
YR 2013
FD February 25
VO 173
IS 4
SP 320
OP 321
DO 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1597
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1597
AB 
Two recent articles in this journal1- 2 examined the impact of living alone and loneliness on mortality risk. Perissinotto et al2 showed that in persons aged 60 years or older, loneliness was associated with 45% increased risk of total mortality. Udell et al1 showed that among outpatients 45 years or older from the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) study, living alone was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality, particularly among younger participants. However, both studies did not adjust for self-reported mental and physical health, which is significantly associated with social support and mortality.3- 4 We investigated the association between living alone and risk of all-cause and CVD mortality among older Australians, independent of self-perceived health status and other confounders.