The association between loneliness and quality of life in cancer survivors: All of Us research program.

Loneliness was associated with fair/poor overall quality of life among cancer survivors after controlling for multiple health behaviors and sociodemographic factors.

• Cross-sectional analysis of All of Us Research Program data
• Sample included cancer survivors aged ≥18 years in the United States (N = 17,367)
• Loneliness was defined using the UCLA-3 items loneliness scale
• Associations were maintained after controlling for multiple health behaviors and sociodemographic factors

Loneliness was associated with severe pain among cancer survivors.

• Analysis was conducted among N = 17,367 cancer survivors aged ≥18 years
• Lonely cancer survivors were more likely to report severe pain compared to non-lonely cancer survivors
• Results were adjusted for multiple health behaviors and sociodemographic factors
• This was one of five health outcomes examined in the study

Loneliness was associated with severe fatigue among cancer survivors, with a stronger association among those living alone than those living with others.

• Survivors living alone had AOR = 3.15 (95% CI = 2.33–4.25) for severe fatigue
• Survivors living with others had AOR = 2.16 (95% CI = 1.81–2.59) for severe fatigue
• The difference between living arrangement subgroups was statistically significant (p < 0.05)
• Living arrangement was one of the sociodemographic characteristics used for stratified analyses

The association between loneliness and fair/poor mental health was stronger among older cancer survivors (≥65 years) than younger survivors (18–39 years).

• Older survivors (≥65 years): AOR = 5.30 (95% CI = 4.30–6.54)
• Younger survivors (18–39 years): AOR = 3.07 (95% CI = 1.95–4.85)
• The difference between age subgroups was statistically significant (p for difference < 0.05)
• Age was one of the sociodemographic characteristics used for stratified analyses

Loneliness was associated with fair/poor physical health among cancer survivors.

• Lonely cancer survivors were more likely to report fair/poor physical health compared to non-lonely cancer survivors
• This association was found after controlling for multiple health behaviors and sociodemographic factors
• Physical health was assessed as one of five health outcomes in the study
• Models stratified by sociodemographic characteristics generally showed similar results

Differences in the association between loneliness and health outcomes existed between some age, sex, and living arrangement subgroups of cancer survivors.

• Stratified models generally showed similar results but differences existed between some subgroups
• Age subgroup differences were found for the loneliness–mental health association
• Living arrangement subgroup differences were found for the loneliness–severe fatigue association
• Sex was also identified as a characteristic showing some subgroup differences
• The authors note this suggests the need for screening and monitoring of loneliness among cancer survivors