Minimal TV Viewing May Cut ASCVD Risk in Those With T2DM Genetic Risk

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 12, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2025 -- Medium and high type 2 diabetes (T2D) genetic risks are not associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) when television viewing is no more than one hour a day, according to a study published online March 12 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Mengyao Wang, Ph.D., from The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, and colleagues examined the interaction between watching television and T2D genetic risk for ASCVD in a study involving 346,916 White British individuals from the U.K. Biobank. Based on 138 genetic variants associated with T2D, a weighted polygenic risk score was calculated for T2D. Time spent watching television was self-reported and categorized as no more than one hour/day and two or more hours/day. A total of 21,265 incident ASCVD events were identified during a median follow-up of 13.8 years.

The researchers found that watching television for two or more hours/day was associated with a 12 percent increased risk for ASCVD compared with no more than one hour/day, independent of T2D genetic risk. As long as television viewing was no more than one hour/day, medium and high T2D genetic risk was not associated with higher risks for ASCVD. For multiplicative and additive interactions between T2D genetic risk and television viewing, the P values were 0.050 and 0.038, respectively. The 10-year absolute ASCVD risk was lower for high T2D genetic risk plus no more than one hour/day television viewing versus low T2D genetic risk plus two or more hours/day television viewing (2.13 versus 2.46 percent).

"We found that people with high genetic risk for type 2 diabetes may exhibit lower chances of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by limiting TV watching to one hour or less each day," Wang said in a statement. "This suggests that less TV viewing could serve as a key behavioral target for preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases linked to type 2 diabetes genetics."

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords