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New research from the University of Exeter Medical School, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Madrid, highlights a potential link between weight loss and reduced risk of severe infections in people with diabetes. The study, conducted by Rhian Hopkins and Ethan de Villiers, reveals that a higher body mass index (BMI) significantly increases the likelihood of hospitalizations due to severe bacterial and viral infections.
Using data from the UK Biobank, which includes medical and genetic records from around 500,000 individuals, the study found that an increase in BMI is associated with a 30% rise in hospitalizations for bacterial infections and a 32% rise in severe viral infections, per every five-point increase in BMI. The data was analyzed from nearly 487,000 participants, divided into groups based on their hospitalization records for bacterial infections, viral infections, and an infection-free control group.
While the study established that higher BMI is a key factor in severe infections, it also explored the relationship between blood sugar control and infection risk. The researchers examined the impact of mild hyperglycemia, characterized by elevated HbA1c levels (a measure of long-term blood sugar), on hospitalizations for infections. Results showed that a 10 mmol/mol increase in HbA1c was linked to a 32% higher risk of hospitalization for bacterial infections and a 29% higher risk of viral infections.
However, when the researchers applied Mendelian randomization—a technique using genetic information to determine causality—they found that while higher BMI is a causal factor for severe infections, mild hyperglycemia is not. This suggests that while elevated blood sugar levels are associated with severe infections, they may not directly cause them.
Ms. Rhian Hopkins, one of the lead researchers, noted the significance of these findings for people with diabetes, who are already twice as likely to be hospitalized for infections compared to the general population. “Up to one in three hospitalizations in people with diabetes are due to infections,” Hopkins said. “Given their vulnerability, interventions targeting weight loss could be crucial in lowering the risk of severe infections and subsequent hospital readmissions.”
The findings underscore the importance of addressing high BMI as a modifiable risk factor for severe infections, particularly for those with diabetes. Hopkins added, “This study highlights the potential benefits of weight loss interventions for individuals with a high BMI who are at risk of severe infections, especially those with diabetes. While further research is needed to explore the role of more severe hyperglycemia in infection risk, clinicians should consider discussing weight loss strategies with patients at high risk.”
Infections remain a leading cause of death and illness in individuals with diabetes, and the study’s results offer new avenues for prevention strategies that could help reduce hospitalizations and improve long-term health outcomes.
