More exercise means less risk of all-cause mortality amongst T2D patients.

Physical activity and exercise is important for long-term survival in patients with type 2 diabetes. In fact, a study of more than 4,500 patients over a 15-year period revealed that increased exercise was linked to a 25-32% reduction in risk of all-cause mortality in this population.

 A Taiwanese study, presented by Dr Yun-Ju Lai (Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan), used data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the National Health Insurance research databases to examine the association between exercise capacity and all-cause mortality [1]. In total, 4,859 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected. Of these, 49.2% were male with a mean age of 59.5 years.

Using univariate Cox regression analysis, it was found that patients who had a greater exercise capacity also had a significantly decreased risk of all-cause mortality compared with patients who did not exercise at all. If patients did moderate exercise (≤800 kcal/week), the HR was 0.83 (95% CI 0.71-0.97). For those maintaining a more strenuous exercise regimen (>800 kcal/week), the HR was 0.77 (95% CI 0.67-0.89). The researchers then adjusted outcomes for potential confounders using multivariate Cox regression analysis. This resulted in a significantly decreased risk of all-cause mortality for patients with a higher exercise capacity versus those with poor exercise habits, for both moderate exercise (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.62-0.91) and for more intense exercise (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.57-0.81). A sensitivity analysis which excluded mortality in the first and second year in the study period was also done and showed that people with a greater capacity for exercise had a significantly decreased risk of all-cause mortality.

1. Lai Y-J. Association between exercise capacity and all-cause mortality in people with type 2 diabetes. EASD 2020. Abstract #267.

Posted on 14 December 202017 December 2020