Research
Cytomegalovirus seropositivity is associated with glucose regulation in the oldest old. Results from the Leiden 85-plus Study
1 Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
2 Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
3 Tübingen Ageing and Tumour Immunology Group, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen Medical School, Tübingen, Germany
4 Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Immunity & Ageing 2012, 9:18 doi:10.1186/1742-4933-9-18
Published: 28 August 2012Abstract
Background
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been reported to contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and post-transplantation diabetes. However, CMV infection has not been evaluated as a possible risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to investigate potential associations between CMV seropositivity, CMV IgG antibody level and glucose regulation in the oldest old.
Results
CMV seropositive subjects were more likely to have type 2 diabetes (17.2% vs 7.9%, p = 0.016), had a higher level of HbA1c (p = 0.014) and higher non-fasting glucose (p = 0.024) in the oldest olds. These associations remained significant after adjustment for possible confounders. CMV IgG antibody level was not significantly associated with glucose regulation (all p > 0.05).
Conclusions
In the oldest old, CMV seropositivity is significantly associated with various indicators of glucose regulation. This finding suggests that CMV infection might be a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes in the elderly.
