Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors in persons with impaired glucose tolerance

Introduction/Objective The aim of the study was to determine the profile of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in comparison to patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Methods The study consisted of 222 adult participants with established fasting blood glucose values within the 5.6-6.9 mmol/L range. IGT was defined as blood glucose of 7.8-11.1 mmol/L in the second hour after the administration of 75 g during oral glucose tolerance test. IFG is the metabolic state between normal and impaired glucose tolerance, where fasting glucose levels are 5.6-6.9 mmol/L, and normal oral glucose tolerance test values. IGT was confirmed in 142 of these individuals (107 females and 35 males; aged 54 +/- 13 years). The remaining 80 participants (56 females and 24 males, p = 0.329; aged 53 +/- 13 years, p = 0.76) were considered the IFG group. The following parameters were analyzed in both groups: body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, fasting insulin levels, HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance), C-reactive protein, fibrinogen concentrations and lipid profile. Results Participants in the IGT group were more obese than those in the IFG group (body mass index 30.8 +/- 5.5 kg/m(2) vs. 26.7 +/- 3.8 kg/m(2), p < 0.001), and with greater waist circumference (111 +/- 12 cm vs. 101 +/- 6 cm; p < 0.001). Glucose levels (6.02 +/- 0.75 mmol/L vs. 5.80 +/- 0.62 mmol/L; p < 0.001), and blood insulin levels (21.61 +/- 3.46 vs. 6.00 +/- 2.8 mIU/L; p < 0.001), as well as HOMA-IR (5.78 +/- 2.68 mIU/L vs. 1.54 +/- 1.46 mIU/L; p < 0.001) were also higher in the IGT group. Median levels of HbA1c in IGT subjects were higher compared with those in the IFG group, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.21 +/- 0.75% vs. 5.92 +/- 0.43%; p = 0.105). Median hs-CRP levels in the IGT subjects (6.7 +/- 4.88 mg/L) were higher than in the IFG subjects (5.83 +/- 6.47 mg/L), but without statistical significance (p = 0.76). Conclusion Our study indicates the presence of a large number of cardiovascular risk factors in both groups. Still, obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, higher diastolic blood pressure, as well as sedentary lifestyle, were statistically significantly more prevalent in patients with IGT.