A new study suggests that death of a partner or spouse increases the other person's risk of heart attack or stroke in the first few weeks after the death of a partner.
Researchers from St. Georges Hospital Medical School concluded that the death of a partner is associated with heart attack or stroke, especially on the first 30 days after bereavement. Furthermore, understanding psychosocial and psychological dilemmas and factors associated with these cardiovascular events are very important in preventing and providing better health care.
They studied data of 30,447 men and women aged 60 to 89 years old, who have lost their partner or spouse between 2005 and 2012 and 83,588 more, who had not lost their partner in that same time frame.
After analyzing the data, they found that in 30 days after the death of their partner, the incidence of fatal or non-fatal heart attack and stroke increased by almost 100 percent among the participants in the bereaved group -- 50 heart attacks or strokes were noted on the bereaved group, while 67 percent of both were noted on the non-bereaved group.
However, the incidence rate of heart attack and stroke remarkably narrowed after that. When the researchers compared the data once again after 90 days and after 365 days, they found that the risks for the participants in both groups are comparable.
The researchers said that the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) from a conditional Poisson model were attuned for age, smoking habits, and history of cardiovascular disease.
"We think it is important that doctors, friends and family are aware of this increased risk of heart attacks and strokes so they can ensure care and support is as good as possible at a time of increased vulnerability before and after loss of a loved one," said study co-author Sunil Shah to Healthday.
Further details of the study can be read on the Feb. 24 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.
