Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Risk of Microvascular Complications in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A UK Biobank Study
Authors' conclusion
Any level of leisure-time physical activity was associated with a lower risk of neuropathy and nephropathy but not retinopathy in individuals with type 2 diabetes. For both neuropathy and nephropathy, the minimal effective physical activity level may correspond to <1.5 h of walking per week.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with T2D from the UK Biobank
- Participants
- 18,092 individuals
- Exposure
- Leisure-time physical activity categories vs no physical activity
- Outcome
- Incident neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy (hospital inpatient diagnosis codes)
- Follow-up
- Median 12.1 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, dose-response analysis, restricted cubic splines
- UK Biobank
- Dose-response analysis
- Restricted cubic splines
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Neuropathy
Each group vs no physical activityAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Below recommendations
0.71(0.53–0.90)
At recommendations
0.73(0.56–0.96)
Above recommendations
0.67(0.52–0.87)
- Diagnosed with neuropathy
- 672 (3.7%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aHR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Incident nephropathy · median follow-up 12.1 yearsBelow recommendationsvs No physical activity | 0.79 (0.68–0.92) | |
| Incident nephropathy · median follow-up 12.1 yearsAt recommendationsvs No physical activity | 0.80 (0.67–0.95) | |
| Incident nephropathy · median follow-up 12.1 yearsAbove recommendationsvs No physical activity | 0.80 (0.68–0.95) | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
- Incident nephropathy — Diagnosed with nephropathy
- 1,839 (10.2%)
Incident retinopathy · median follow-up 12.1 years
- Diagnosed with retinopathy
- 2,099 (11.7%)
- Any level of physical activity was not associated with a lower risk of retinopathy; association weaker
Original publication
Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Risk of Microvascular Complications in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A UK Biobank Study. Diabetes Care. Published 7 August 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →