Background: Psychosocial risk factors are important determinants of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs): people involved in positive relationships live longer than those with low social support (SS).
Aims: Our study aimed to evaluate the association between SS, components of the social network, and CVDs.
Methods: A cross-sectional population-based survey WOBASZ II conducted in the years 2013-2014 included a sample of 6043 individuals, aged 20 and over, who completed the Berkman-Syme questionnaire to assess SS using the social network index (SNI).
Results: Higher percentage of low SS was observed in women (52.15%) compared to men (45.4%) (P <0.001). People with a low SNI had a worse CVD risk factor profile. None of the analyzed social contacts (with children, relatives, or friends), regardless of how satisfactory they were, was associated with CVDs in men. In women, satisfying contact with children or relatives appeared to be associated with better cardiovascular health. Furthermore, active participation in organized social activity increased the chance of arrhythmia in both sexes: 1.50 (1.04-2.15); P = 0.029 in men; 1.47 (1.11-1.95); P = 0.007 in women. Although a low SNI was associated with analyzed CVDs in the univariate analysis, it was not confirmed in the fully adjusted model.
Conclusions: More women had low SS compared to men. People with low SS had a worse CVD risk factor profile. There was a significant independent relationship between different components of the SNI, such as social contacts and CVDs in women and active participation in organized social activity and arrhythmia in both sexes.
Keywords: Berkman-Syme questionnaire; Polish population; cardiovascular diseases; cross-sectional study; social support.