Non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness and incident type 2 diabetes in adults

Aim(s)

To examine the association between non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and incident type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In a sample of 13,616 men and women without diabetes at baseline, incident type 2 diabetes were determined as fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7 mmol/l (126 mg/dL), self-report, or insulin usage at follow-up. eCRF was calculated in metabolic equivalents (METs) at baseline using sex-specific algorithms, including physical activity, smoking status, age, body mass index, waist circumference, and resting heart rate. Cox regression models were performed, and hazard ratios (HRs), 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and p values were reported.

Results

Each 1-MET unit increase in eCRF was associated with an 11 % lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (p < 0.0001). Men in the upper and middle eCRF tertiles were at 46 % (95 % CI, 0.42–0.68) and 29 % (95 % CI, 0.57–0.88) lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes compared to the lower eCRF tertile (p < 0.0001). For women, there were no significant findings between eCRF tertiles and incident type 2 diabetes (p ≥ 0.11 for all).

Conclusions

Higher eCRF was associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in men. Further research needs to examine the association between eCRF and type 2 diabetes in women.