A comparison of carotid intimal thickness and other risk factors in patients with prediabetes and normoglycemic subjects in the Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: Prediabetes is a precursor to diabetes; it is an intermediary state between normoglycemia and hyperglycemia. This metabolic state keeps company with major risk factors for atherovascular disease. The risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), including myocardial infarction, is higher in prediabetes patients compared to normal population. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of prediabetes in the patients with CAD and to compare the glycemic status, carotid intimal thickness (CIMT) and other risk factors in the prediabetes patients and normoglycemic subjects. Materials and Methods: One-hundred and fifty CAD patients and 80 control subjects who were age and sex matched were studied. Fasting blood glucose, a 2 h glucose tolerance test and CIMT were compared in both groups. Results: Mean age in the control group was 59.93 ± 10.84 years whereas it was 61.0 ± 11.02 years in the CAD. The mean CIMT was more and statistically significant in the case group. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was found in 30 (20%) cases and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was found in 45 (30%) cases, and both IFG and IGT were found in 12 (8%) cases. The prevalence of prediabetes in this study was 58%. Nondiabetic CAD patients had statistically higher fasting glucose level, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test values, total cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein levels than control patients. Conclusion: These findings stress the need for early screening and management of prediabetes preventing further progression to diabetes and CAD, even in rural patients.