Frontiers in Endocrinology (Dec 2022)

Psychological burden predicts new-onset diabetes in men: A longitudinal observational study in the Fukushima Health Management Survey after the Great East Japan earthquake

  • Hiroyuki Hirai,
  • Hiroyuki Hirai,
  • Masanori Nagao,
  • Masanori Nagao,
  • Tetsuya Ohira,
  • Tetsuya Ohira,
  • Masaharu Maeda,
  • Masaharu Maeda,
  • Kanako Okazaki,
  • Kanako Okazaki,
  • Kanako Okazaki,
  • Hironori Nakano,
  • Hironori Nakano,
  • Fumikazu Hayashi,
  • Fumikazu Hayashi,
  • Mayumi Harigane,
  • Mayumi Harigane,
  • Yuriko Suzuki,
  • Atsushi Takahashi,
  • Atsushi Takahashi,
  • Akira Sakai,
  • Junichiro J. Kazama,
  • Junichiro J. Kazama,
  • Mitsuaki Hosoya,
  • Mitsuaki Hosoya,
  • Hirooki Yabe,
  • Hirooki Yabe,
  • Seiji Yasumura,
  • Seiji Yasumura,
  • Hitoshi Ohto,
  • Kenji Kamiya,
  • Michio Shimabukuro,
  • Michio Shimabukuro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.1008109
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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BackgroundThe burden of psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been suggested as a factor in developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, longitudinal features in psychological distress- and PTSD-related new-onset diabetes mellitus have not been thoroughly evaluated.MethodsThe association between probable depression and probable PTSD and the risk of developing new-onset diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a 7-year prospective cohort of evacuees of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Probable depression was defined as a Kessler 6 scale (K6) ≥ 13 and probable PTSD as a PTSD Checklist—Stressor-Specific Version (PCL-S) ≥ 44.ResultsThe log-rank test for the Kaplan–Meier curve for new-onset diabetes mellitus was significant between K6 ≥ 13 vs. < 13 and PCL-S ≥ 44 vs. < 44 in men but not in women. In men, both K6 ≥ 13 and PCL-S ≥ 44 remained significant in the Cox proportional hazards model after multivariate adjustment for established risk factors and disaster-related factors, including evacuation, change in work situation, sleep dissatisfaction, and education.ConclusionThe post-disaster psychological burden of probable depression and probable PTSD was related to new-onset diabetes in men but not in women. In post-disaster circumstances, prevention strategies for new-onset diabetes might consider sex differences in terms of psychological burden.

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