Loneliness increases the risk of type 2 diabetes: a 20 year follow-up – results from the HUNT study
Main finding · Incident T2DResult — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 2.19 95% CI 1.16–4.15Authors' conclusion
This study suggests that loneliness may be one factor that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes; however, there is no strong support that the effect of loneliness on type 2 diabetes is mediated by depression or insomnia. We recommend that loneliness should be included in clinical guidelines on consultations and interventions related to type 2 diabetes.
Study context
- Population
- Population of central Norway, Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT); loneliness self-reported in HUNT2 (1995–1997), HbA1c in HUNT4 (2017–2019)
- Participants
- 24,024 participants
- Exposure
- Most lonely vs not lonely
- Outcome
- Incidence of T2D
- Follow-up
- 20 year
Methodological detailspopulation-based, 20 year follow-up
- Population-based
- 20 year follow-up
Main finding
Incident T2D
Adjusted odds ratio
2.19
95% CI 1.16–4.15
Most lonelyvs Not lonely
aOR 2.19 (95% CI 1.16–4.15)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
T2D incidence, all participants · 20 year follow-up
- Developed T2D
- 4.9%
Loneliness prevalence
- Various degrees of feeling lonely
- 12.6%
Mediation by depression and insomnia
- Effect of loneliness on T2D weakly mediated by one subtype of insomnia but not by symptoms of depression
Original publication
Loneliness increases the risk of type 2 diabetes: a 20 year follow-up – results from the HUNT study. Diabetologia. Published 28 September 2022. doi:10.
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