02117nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245012100055210006900176260001300245300001000258490000700268520143400275100002001709700001901729700002501748700002201773700002401795700002101819700002301840856003601863 2020 eng d a1873-258500aThe association of prediagnosis social support with survival after heart failure in the Cardiovascular Health Study.0 aassociation of prediagnosis social support with survival after h c2020 Feb a73-770 v423 a

PURPOSE: Although social support has been shown to be associated with survival among persons with cardiovascular disease, little research has focused on whether social support, measured before the onset of heart failure, can enhance survival after diagnosis. The objective of this study was to assess the association between prediagnosis social support and postdiagnosis survival among older adults with heart failure.

METHODS: We obtained the data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, which included noninstitutionalized adults aged 65 years or older from four sites in the United States with primary enrollment in 1989-1990. We used two measures of social support, the Lubben Social Network Scale and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. The analytic data set included 529 participants with a social support measure within two years before diagnosis of heart failure.

RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic covariates, cardiovascular risk factors, and general health status, mortality rates were lower among participants in the highest tertile of social network scores (HR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.93) and the middle tertile (HR 0.73 [0.58, 0.90]), compared with the lowest tertile. Results with interpersonal support were null.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that prediagnosis structural social support may modestly buffer heart failure patients from mortality.

1 aKaiser, Paulina1 aAllen, Norrina1 aDelaney, Joseph, A C1 aHirsch, Calvin, H1 aCarnethon, Mercedes1 aArnold, Alice, M1 aOdden, Michelle, C uhttps://chs-nhlbi.org/node/8285