New research reveals how emotional disconnection is quietly worsening outcomes—and what we can do about it.
To better understand how loneliness directly impacts patient health, particularly in relation to medication adherence, Pleio conducted an in-depth survey focused on patients living with chronic conditions.
Loneliness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a serious public health issue. In our national survey of over 2,000 Americans living with chronic conditions, one truth stood out: emotional isolation is disrupting care, leading to avoidable health events, and driving up costs across the system. Key findings include:
74% of patients report loneliness negatively affects their physical health
52% said loneliness interfered with taking medications as prescribed, which increases to a staggering 70% among patients taking specialty medications
41% avoided picking up a prescription due to emotional disengagement
patients said their loneliness worsened after being diagnosed with a chronic illness.
The study highlights a critical moment in the patient journey: diagnosis. Nearly two-thirds of patients said their loneliness worsened after being diagnosed. From that point on, disengagement creeps in—making it harder to understand treatment plans, show up to appointments, and follow through with care.
“Our support model is built on human connection, and what we’ve been seeing from patients told us something bigger was at play. We commissioned this report to understand the emotional realities behind medication non-adherence. Now we have the data to prove it—loneliness isn’t just hurting patients emotionally, it’s putting their health at risk.”
–Michael Oleksiw, CEO of Pleio