H1N1 infection may increase risk of type 1 diabetes

Researchers from Norway used national registry data to explore if the H1N1 virus could be linked to the development of type 1 diabetes

Micrograph of H1N1 virus
A study has found that environmental factors, including seasonal flu, can contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease and, consequently, flu prevention could have important public health consequences for long-term neurological health.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Infection with H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, has been linked to the development of autoimmune disorders.

In a study presented at a recent conference, researchers from Norway used national registry data to explore if the virus could also be linked to the development of type 1 diabetes[1]
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From June 2009 to June 2014, of the 76,173 participants who were diagnosed with pandemic influenza, 2,376 people were also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Results showed that people with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 or those hospitalised with flu during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic were twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes as the general population. In contrast, those diagnosed with influenza in primary care during the pandemic were not at a significantly increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

The researchers said the results provided further evidence that respiratory infections contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes because of stress and inflammation in predisposed individuals.

References

[1] Ruiz P, Tapia G, Bakken I et al. Pandemic influenza diagnosis and subsequent risk of type 1 diabetes. Presented at: European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting; 11–15 September 2017; Lisbon, Portugal.

Last updated
Citation
Clinical Pharmacist, CP, December 2017, Vol 9, No 12;9(12):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2017.20203899

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