TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased levels of solar radiation are associated with reduced type-2 diabetes prevalence
T2 - A cross-sectional study of Australian postcodes
AU - Lee, Aaron E.
AU - Chiu, Cherry
AU - Thian, Aurelne
AU - Suann, Brittany
AU - Gorman, Shelley
N1 - Funding Information:
SG was funded by an Al and Val Rosenstrauss Research Fellowship from the Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation. This funder was not involved in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; the writing of the report; or the decision to submit the report for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Lee, Chiu, Thian, Suann and Gorman.
PY - 2022/11/9
Y1 - 2022/11/9
N2 - Type-2 diabetes is a leading cause of death and disability. Emerging evidence suggests that ultraviolet radiation or sun exposure may limit its development. We used freely available online datasets to evaluate the associations between solar radiation and type-2 diabetes prevalence across Australia. We extracted prevalence data for 1822 postcodes from the Australian Diabetes Map on 25 January 2020. Daily solar radiation data averaged over 30-years (1990–2019) were collated from online databases (Australian Bureau of Meteorology). Population-weighted linear regression models were adjusted for covariates at the postcode level including socioeconomic status (IRSAD), remoteness, mean age, gender, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, as well as mean annual ambient temperature (1961–1990) and rainfall (1981–2010). A consistent inverse correlation was observed between type-2 diabetes prevalence and solar radiation, after adjusting for these covariates (ß (coefficient of regression) = −0.045; 95% CI: −0.086, −0.0051; p = 0.027). However, the relative contribution of solar radiation towards type-2 diabetes prevalence was small (2.1%) in this model. Other significant correlations between type-2 diabetes prevalence and covariates included: socioeconomic status (ß = −0.017; 95% CI: −0.017, −0.016; p < 0.001), mean age (ß = 0.041; 95% CI: 0.028, 0.054; p < 0.015), remoteness (ß = −0.05; 95% CI: −0.088, −0.011; p < 0.001) and rainfall (ß = −0.0008; 95% CI: −0.00097, −0.00067; p < 0.001). In conclusion, in Australian postcodes, higher levels of solar radiation and rainfall was associated with reduced type-2 diabetes prevalence. Further studies are needed that consider lifestyle covariates such as physical activity.
AB - Type-2 diabetes is a leading cause of death and disability. Emerging evidence suggests that ultraviolet radiation or sun exposure may limit its development. We used freely available online datasets to evaluate the associations between solar radiation and type-2 diabetes prevalence across Australia. We extracted prevalence data for 1822 postcodes from the Australian Diabetes Map on 25 January 2020. Daily solar radiation data averaged over 30-years (1990–2019) were collated from online databases (Australian Bureau of Meteorology). Population-weighted linear regression models were adjusted for covariates at the postcode level including socioeconomic status (IRSAD), remoteness, mean age, gender, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, as well as mean annual ambient temperature (1961–1990) and rainfall (1981–2010). A consistent inverse correlation was observed between type-2 diabetes prevalence and solar radiation, after adjusting for these covariates (ß (coefficient of regression) = −0.045; 95% CI: −0.086, −0.0051; p = 0.027). However, the relative contribution of solar radiation towards type-2 diabetes prevalence was small (2.1%) in this model. Other significant correlations between type-2 diabetes prevalence and covariates included: socioeconomic status (ß = −0.017; 95% CI: −0.017, −0.016; p < 0.001), mean age (ß = 0.041; 95% CI: 0.028, 0.054; p < 0.015), remoteness (ß = −0.05; 95% CI: −0.088, −0.011; p < 0.001) and rainfall (ß = −0.0008; 95% CI: −0.00097, −0.00067; p < 0.001). In conclusion, in Australian postcodes, higher levels of solar radiation and rainfall was associated with reduced type-2 diabetes prevalence. Further studies are needed that consider lifestyle covariates such as physical activity.
KW - australian postcodes
KW - data-scraping
KW - solar radiation
KW - type-2 diabetes prevalence
KW - ultraviolet radiation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142459574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fenvs.2022.970658
DO - 10.3389/fenvs.2022.970658
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85142459574
SN - 2296-665X
VL - 10
JO - Frontiers in Environmental Science
JF - Frontiers in Environmental Science
M1 - 970658
ER -