Diabetes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Diabetes, including details on insulin, type i, type ii, diet, treatment, prevention.

Specific associations of insulin resistance with impaired health-related quality of life in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

Schlotz W, Ambery P, Syddall HE, Crozier SR, Sayer AA, Cooper C, Phillips DI,

MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. ws@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Insulin resistance is a metabolic abnormality that underlies Type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, but it may also be associated with more global health deficits. This study assessed associations of insulin resistance with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in different domains of physical and mental health in a large elderly population study. Cross-sectional data of 1212 participants from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study were analysed. Insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR), and HRQoL was measured using the SF-36 health survey. Poor HRQoL was defined by a score lower than the sex-specific 10th percentile of each scale, and logistic regressions yielded odds ratios in relation to the HOMA-IR scores. Subsequent analyses adjusted for the influence of age, smoking, alcohol consumption, social class, BMI, coronary heart disease and depression. Results showed an increase in poor HRQoL with an increase in HOMA-IR scores for physical functioning (OR = 2.29; CI: 1.67-3.13), vitality (OR = 1.45; CI: 1.05-2.00), and general health (OR = 1.62; CI: 1.19-2.21). In men, but not in women, associations with physical functioning were independent of confounding variables. The results indicate that insulin resistance is associated with poor HRQoL in domains of physical health, but not in domains of mental health.

Published 5 March 2007 in Qual Life Res, 16(3): 429-36.
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