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Data collection included the validated Portuguese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale and self-reported use of healthcare services over the previous year (primary care and emergency visits, and the number of daily prescribed medicines).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 318 participants were included (58.8% female), with a mean age of 75.5\u00a0years, 28.9% over 80. Mild loneliness was reported by 52.2% and severe loneliness by 14.8%. Severe loneliness was significantly associated with increased primary care visits (OR\u2009=\u20096.8; 95%CI: 5.8\u20137.7;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001), emergency department use (OR\u2009=\u20095.8; 95%CI: 4.4\u20137.1;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001), and polypharmacy (OR\u2009=\u20092.0; 95%CI: 1.3\u20132.6;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001). Depression, poor perceived health, family dysfunction, and urinary tract disease were associated with severe loneliness, whilst strong neighbourhood relationships appeared protective.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Loneliness is a measurable and clinically relevant determinant of healthcare use in older adults. These findings support the integration of loneliness screening and intervention into routine clinical care, regardless of geographic setting.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s41999-025-01307-8","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T03:59:37Z","timestamp":1760587177000},"page":"2315-2321","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Loneliness as a determinant of healthcare utilisation in older adults: a cross-sectional study in a Portuguese rural region"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3803-4401","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u00c2ngela","family":"Mira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0907-4033","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"Galv\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2362-5527","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulo","family":"Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"1307_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jamda.2024.105110","author":"LA Duffner","year":"2024","unstructured":"Duffner LA, Janssen N, Deckers K, Schroyen S, de Vugt ME, K\u00f6hler S et al (2024) Facing the next \u201cgeriatric giant\u201d\u2014a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of interventions tackling loneliness and social isolation among older adults. 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