Academic Journal
Loneliness among adults at the end of life: A systematic review of prevalence and correlates.
| Τίτλος: | Loneliness among adults at the end of life: A systematic review of prevalence and correlates. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Maun E; Marie Curie, London, UK.; Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College, London, UK., Gardiner C; School of Allied Health Professionals, Nursing & Midwifery, University of Sheffield, UK., McConnell T; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, UK., Seddon K; Marie Curie Research Voices, London, UK., Woodhead A; Marie Curie Research Voices, London, UK., Hudson B; Marie Curie, London, UK.; Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College, London, UK. |
| Πηγή: | Palliative medicine [Palliat Med] 2026 Jun; Vol. 40 (6), pp. 777-792. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 23. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Systematic Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: SAGE Publications Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8704926 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1477-030X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 02692163 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Palliat Med Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: London : SAGE Publications Original Publication: London : New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, North American distributors, Edward Arnold ; c1987- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Loneliness*/psychology , Terminal Care*/psychology , Terminally Ill*/psychology, Palliative Care/psychology ; Quality of Life/psychology ; Adult ; Humans ; Prevalence |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Loneliness has been linked to poorer quality of life and worse symptoms in the final weeks prior to death. However, research on prevalence at end of life has yet to be systematically reviewed. Aim: To synthesise evidence of prevalence and correlates of loneliness among adults at the end of life. Design: Systematic review without meta-analysis, due to high study heterogeneity, registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024581962). Data Sources: OVID Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Science, PubMed, Social Policy and Practice and Health Management Information Consortium databases were searched up to April 2025. Studies estimating prevalence of loneliness were eligible where the sample (or identifiable sub-sample) were adults with a terminal illness, receiving palliative care or retrospectively identified with a loneliness measure less than 12 months prior to death. Results: Fifteen eligible studies were included. Most studies were North American or European, with samples based on clinical diagnosis or palliative care receipt. Prevalence estimates of moderate or worse loneliness ranged from 20% to 73% and high loneliness from 8% to 33% in studies sampling based on clinical diagnosis or care receipt, and 7%-12% and 18.6% respectively, in studies sampling retrospectively based on time to death. However, findings are presented with caution due to significant heterogeneity across studies. Conclusions: Evidence suggests loneliness may be a difficulty faced by a significant minority of people at the end of life, requiring support for individuals, within services and communities. Research is needed in a wider range of countries, and to develop and assess effective interventions. |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Clare Gardiner is a member of the editorial advisory board for Palliative Medicine. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: loneliness; palliative care; prevalence; systematic review; terminally ill |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260324 Date Completed: 20260530 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260813 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13221580 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/02692163261428936 |
| PMID: | 41872985 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1477-030X |
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| DOI: | 10.1177/02692163261428936 |