Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41420995›Full record

Observational studyPublic health2026

Loneliness among older adults with multiple chronic conditions: Exploring disparities for Hispanic adults in the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Derek S Falk, Alfonso J Rojas-Álvarez, Deborah M Parra-Medina, Christian E Vazquez

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Derek S FalkSchool of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA. Electronic address: derek.falk@uta.edu.
Alfonso J Rojas-ÁlvarezPublic Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Deborah M Parra-MedinaCenter for Health Equity, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
Christian E VazquezSchool of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.

Funding

UTEP FIRST: United Toward Equity and Progress: Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable TransformationU54CA280922 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · PI CORRAL, GUADALUPE · 2023 to 2024
$5.4M
Spanish Language Older Adult eHealth LearningK01AG081455 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARLINGTON · PI Christian E Vazquez · 2023 to 2026
$508k
NCI NIH HHS U54 CA280922NIA NIH HHS K01 AG081455NIA NIH HHS L60 AG084095
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesLoneliness among older adults is a public health concern negatively impacting those with multimorbidity. As the population continues to age in the United States and the proportion of Hispanics grows, understanding the relationship between loneliness and multimorbidity for Hispanic older adults warrants further examination. Previous studies have explored loneliness and multimorbidity, but examine the impact on Hispanic older adults. To achieve this aim, we assessed loneliness and disparities in the dose-response relationship of multimorbidity in adults aged 65+. STUDY

designCross-sectional observational study using data from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

methodsWeighted analyses represented U.S. adults aged 65+. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests compared prevalence by ethnicity. Multivariable logistic regression models identified factors associated with loneliness in the overall sample and Hispanic subgroup. Predicted probabilities were plotted to highlight differences by race, ethnicity, and sex.

resultsAmong U.S. adults aged 65+, 35.0 % reported feeling lonely. Hispanic older adults reported a higher prevalence of loneliness than non-Hispanic older adults (40.2 % vs 34.5 %) and were more likely to receive inadequate social support (10.7 % vs 6.3 %). Hispanic females showed the strongest dose-response effect, with loneliness increasing from 41 % (no conditions) to 57 % (3+ conditions).

conclusionsBeing Hispanic, regardless of sex, increased likelihood of loneliness and inadequate social support; however, Hispanic older females face the highest levels of loneliness when managing multimorbidity with inadequate social support compared to Hispanic males and individuals of other races/ethnicities. Further research is needed to address these disparities for Hispanics and women in particular.

Indexed as

Health Status DisparitiesHispanic or LatinoLonelinessMultiple Chronic ConditionsAgedAged, 80 and overBehavioral Risk Factor Surveillance SystemCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMultimorbidityPrevalenceUnited StatesChronic conditionsHealth disparitiesHispanicsLonelinessOlder adultsSocial and emotional support

Identifiers

PMID41420995
PMCPMC12949673

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.