# Association of Noise Exposure, Genetic Susceptibility, and Lifestyle With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that long-term workplace noise exposure increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, especially when combined with an unhealthy lifestyle.

## Contribution

The study is the first to investigate the combined effects of noise exposure, genetic risk, and lifestyle on Type 2 diabetes in a large population.

## Key findings

- Prolonged workplace noise exposure is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes.
- Combining noise exposure with an unhealthy lifestyle significantly increases diabetes risk.
- High genetic risk alone does not lead to the highest diabetes risk without noise exposure.

## Abstract

We aimed to explore the relationship of noise exposure in the workplace, genetic risk, and lifestyle with Type 2 diabetes (T2D).

A total of 154,708 participants without T2D in UK Biobank were included. A lifestyle score was determined using smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, television viewing time, sleep duration, and diet.

During a median follow-up of 11.83 years (1,776,919.62 person-years), 5921 T2D cases were observed. Compared to no noise exposure, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 1.06 (0.95–1.18) in less than a year, 1.01 (0.91–1.12) in around 1–5 years, and 1.11 (1.04–1.20) in more than 5 years, respectively. Compared to participants with low genetic risk and no noise exposure, individuals with high genetic risk and noise exposure for more than 5 years did not show the highest risk of T2D (HR = 1.16, 95%CI = 0.98–1.36). However, participants with the least healthy lifestyle and noise exposure for more than 5 years revealed a higher risk of T2D (HR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.27–2.33).

Prolonged noise exposure in the workplace is related to a higher risk of T2D.