Evidence mapPaperPMID 41769088Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Light pollution and risk of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Mengxiang Zhang, Yafei Xie, Dexuan Hu, Jianguo Xu, Junfei Wang, Lingdi Yang, Jinhui Tian, Bin Li

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mengxiang Zhang *The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Yafei Xie *Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Dexuan HuChongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Jianguo XuEvidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Junfei WangEvidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Lingdi YangJingtai County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, China.
Jinhui TianEvidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Bin LiThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Light pollution, characterized by excessive artificial light at night (LAN), is an emerging environmental risk factor with widespread impacts on human health. While its disruption of circadian rhythms is well-documented, its specific link to metabolic disorders like diabetes remains poorly synthesized. Objective: To systematically evaluate and quantify the association between light pollution exposure (both indoor and outdoor) and the risk of diabetes mellitus based on existing observational studies. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL on January 9, 2024, and manually supplemented with citation searches. Two researchers independently screened literature and extracted data. Study quality was evaluated using the AHRQ and NOS scales. Random-effects meta-analyses synthesized risk estimates, with heterogeneity measured by I Results: Out of 2,115 identified studies, six were included in the quantitative synthesis. Light pollution exposure was associated with a 31% increase in diabetes risk (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13-1.33; GRADE: moderate). Subgroup analyses showed significant correlations with severe light pollution (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.14-1.24; GRADE: moderate), low to moderate light pollution (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14; GRADE: moderate), and indoor light pollution (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.15-2.39; GRADE: moderate). Heterogeneity sources included sample size, light pollution type, and study quality. Conclusion: Exposure to light pollution is positively associated with increased diabetes risk, particularly with indoor light pollution. However, the limited number of included studies underscores the need for more prospective cohort studies with standardized exposure assessment and covariate adjustment. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024551969.

Indexed as

Diabetes MellitusEnvironmental ExposureLight PollutionHumansObservational Studies as TopicRisk Factorsdiabeteslight pollutionmeta-analysisobservational studyrisk assessmentsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41769088
PMCPMC12946003

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.