We will use UK Biobank to examine endocrine-metabolic determinants of cardiometabolic status and outcomes, primarily using questionnaire data, physical measures, biomarkers and medication information in the full cohort. In the imaging subcohort, we will integrate abdominal MRI imaging-derived phenotypes (pancreas-focused) and, where relevant, cardiac MRI imaging-derived phenotypes to characterise organ-level features and downstream cardiovascular complications.
Rationale: Endocrine-metabolic dysregulation underpins type 2 diabetes and contributes to major cardiovascular disease. Organ and ectopic fat phenotypes may capture long-term metabolic burden beyond single blood tests. UK Biobank provides harmonised phenotypes and long-term follow-up at scale.
Objectives: (1) Characterise associations between endocrine-metabolic exposures and cardiometabolic status (glycaemic, lipid, adiposity and blood pressure traits). (2) Test prospective associations with incident outcomes (e.g., type 2 diabetes, metabolic liver disease and major cardiovascular events). (3) Evaluate whether imaging phenotypes (abdominal MRI; optional cardiac MRI) improve risk stratification beyond conventional risk factors.
Approach: We will implement reproducible workflows in the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform, including phenotype definition and quality control, cross-sectional and time-to-event analyses, flexible modelling of non-linear effects and interactions, handling of missing data and imaging-subcohort selection, and robustness checks (alternative definitions, subgroup analyses and internal validation).