NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Consistent with previous findings, a
study in the December issue of Diabetes Care shows that impaired pulmonary
function is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes.
Drs. Earl S. Ford and David M. Mannino from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention in Atlanta analyzed data on 4,830 men and women aged 25 to 74
participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study. They were interviewed and examined at baseline in
1971-1975 and followed through 1992-1993.
During follow-up, 443 developed diabetes. Multivariate analysis revealed a
significant inverse association between lung function (FEV1), forced vital
capacity (FVC), and percentage of predicted FVC and the incidence of diabetes.
Restrictive lung disease, but not chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), was associated with a moderate increase in the risk of diabetes (hazard
ratio, 1.45).
The authors note that additional studies are needed to better understand the
relationship between impaired lung function and diabetes and their possible
implications.
"Inflammation associated with pulmonary disorders could conceivably
contribute to the development of diabetes," they point out. "If so, abnormal
pulmonary function or lung disease could act as a risk factor for diabetes."
Nevertheless, if "the development of diabetes impairs lung function, the
changes could be seen as risk markers rather than risk factors for diabetes."
