Clustering of risk behaviours and associations between risk behaviours and cardio-metabolic risk factors in adult individuals with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS

To assess clustering of risk behaviours and their health determinants.

METHODS

Cross-sectional health behaviour and health data were collected from individuals with type 1 diabetes, in the FinnDiane Study. Clustering of risk behaviours was assessed and associations between behaviours and health variables were investigated.

RESULTS

Data were available from 956 participants (40 % men, mean age 46 years). Altogether, 4.3 % individuals reported no risk behaviours, while 25.7 %, 37.4 %, 24.7 %, 6.8 %, and 1.0 % reported 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 risk behaviours, respectively. Reporting ≥4 risk behaviours occurred more frequently than expected by chance. Dietary non-adherence was most frequently reported (84.4 %), followed by low LTPA (54.4 %), poor sleep (41.9 %), high alcohol consumption (15.2 %), and smoking (11.2 %). Adjusted for confounders, relative to ≤1 risk behaviour, reporting ≥2 risk behaviours was associated with higher BMI, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure. Having ≥3 risk behaviours was associated with larger waist-hip ratio, and higher HbA and triglyceride concentration; ≥4 risk behaviours was associated with higher cholesterol concentration. Of the health behaviours, low LTPA had the highest number of deleterious health associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Accumulation of risk behaviors increases negative health outcomes. Exhibiting ≥2 risk behaviours or low LTPA was associated with multiple adverse outcomes.