A large population-based study from Finland has shown that being unmarried increases the risk of fatal（致命的） and non-fatal heart attack in both men and women whatever their age. Conversely, say the study investigators¹, especially among middle-aged² couples, being married and cohabiting are associated with "considerably³ better prognosis of acute cardiac events both before hospitalization and after reaching the hospital alive." The study, published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, was based on the FINAMI myocardial infarction（心肌梗死） register data from the years 1993 to 2002.1,2 The study included information on people over the age of 35 living in four geographical⁴ regions of Finland. All fatal and non-fatal cardiac events -- known as "acute cardiac syndromes⁵," ACS -- were included and cross-referred to the population database. "Our aim," said the authors, "was to study the differences in the morbidity⁶ and prognosis of incident acute coronary syndromes according to socio-demographic characteristics (marital⁷ status and household size)."

 

The register recorded 15,330 ACS events over the study period of ten years, with just over half (7703) resulting in death within 28 days. Events occurred almost equally among men and women. However, the analysis also showed that the age-standardised incidences of these ACS events were approximately 58-66% higher among unmarried men and 60-65% higher in unmarried women, than among married men and women in all age groups.

 

The differences in 28-day mortality rate were even greater. These 28-day mortality rates were found to be 60-168% higher in unmarried men and 71-175% higher in unmarried women, than among married men and women.

 

For example, the 28-day ACS mortality rate in 65-74-year-old married men was 866 per 100,000 persons per year but 1792 per 100,000 per year in unmarried men. This rate did not differ according to previous marital status.

 

Similarly, mortality rates among 65-74-year old married women were 247 per 100,000 persons per year, but 493 per 100,000 when the woman was unmarried. Statistically⁸, the figures represented a 28-day "case fatality⁹" rate of 26% in the 35-64-year-old married men, 42% in men who had previously¹⁰ been married, and 51% in never-married men. Among women, the corresponding figures were 20%, 32%, and 43%.

 

Consistent with this finding, the case fatality rate of 35-64-year-old single men and women was higher than that of those living with one or more people.

 

According to the authors' background to the study, being unmarried or living alone is known to increase total and cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular disease incidence. However, many of these previous studies have included only men in their analysis, with missing data on women and older age groups.

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