A recent study in Denmark has revealed that intense, prolonged grief following the death of a loved one could significantly raise the risk of dying within a decade.
Published in Frontiers in Public Health, the research tracked 1,735 bereaved individuals in Denmark, with an average age of 62, for up to 10 years after the loss. The findings are striking: those who exhibited persistent and severe grief symptoms were found to be 88% more likely to die within the study period compared to those with milder grief responses.
Lead researcher Dr. Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen and her team categorized grieving patterns into five distinct trajectories. While 38% of participants experienced consistently low grief, a smaller portion—around 6%—fell into the high grief trajectory (HGT), showing sustained emotional distress throughout the years.
These individuals not only faced a higher mortality risk but also displayed increased use of mental health services, including frequent prescriptions for antidepressants, sedatives, and anxiety medications.
“We have previously found a connection between high grief symptom levels and higher rates of cardiovascular disease, mental problems, and even suicide,” Nielsen said. “But the association with mortality should be further investigated.”
She noted that those in the HGT group often had lower educational backgrounds and signs of mental health challenges even before their loss. These vulnerabilities may signal a need for early psychological support.
“They may experience distress and have difficulties coping with the situation,” Nielsen told CNN, emphasizing the role of general practitioners in identifying at-risk individuals. “A GP could look for previous signs of depression and other severe mental health conditions. They can offer these patients tailored follow-up… or suggest a bereavement follow-up appointment focusing on mental health.”
This study adds to growing evidence about the serious health consequences of grief. A separate study published in Journal of the American Heart Association earlier this year also linked “broken heart syndrome”—a stress-induced heart condition—to higher mortality in men.
Known medically as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the syndrome mimics heart attack symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath and is often triggered by intense emotional stress.
