Loneliness in the Elderly: Association with Health Variables, Pain, and Cognitive Performance. A Population-based Study

The aim of this population-based study is to analyze the association loneliness and physical health, pain, health-related quality life, mental cognitive performance, morbidity, use health services. Based on census, a stratified random sampling was chosen. A telephone interview conducted with 2,060 people over 65 years old, using GHQ-12 COOP-Wonca. An General Mental Health (GHQ-12) found, OR = 1.43 (1.34, 1.52) depression, 2.34 (1.54, 3.53). In performance highest effect variable “memory problems disturb your daily life”, 3.11 (1.25, 7.72); illnesses-related variables: variables were perception status, 1.37 (1.13, 1. 67) life (COOP-Wonca), 3.03 (2.32, 3.94); pain-related non-localized 2.67 (1.87, 3.83) arthritis/arthrosis, 1.94 (1.38, 2.72); impaired vision, 2. 62 (1.84, 3.73) hearing, 1.81 (1.21, 2.72). It concluded that complex phenomenon associated different nature. This fact should be taken into account at time planning possible solutions.