Social isolation increases CVD risk in older women. Social isolation and loneliness, so prevalent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older women, according to a study in the February JAMA Network Open. The harmful effects of loneliness on numerous health outcomes have been well established, including CVD risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity. In the study of nearly 58,000 postmenopausal women, researchers found a 13% to 27% increased risk of CVD in women with high levels of both social isolation and loneliness compared with women with less social isolation and loneliness. Interestingly, social support didn't mitigate this risk. The authors note the potential value in primary care providers assessing social isolation and loneliness in older women and connecting them with mental health and community resources.