Elevated fasting blood glucose, but not obesity, is associated with coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography in a referral hospital in Jordan.

Abstract

BACKGROUNDObesity and its metabolic complications are endemic in the Middle East, but the cardiovascular consequences are not well defined in local studies.OBJECTIVETo assess the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG), obesity and coronary artery disease (CAD) in Jordan.DESIGNA cross-sectional, hospital-based study.SETTINGA referral hospital in Amman, Jordan.PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients with complete anthropomorphic data who were referred for elective coronary angiography were included in the analysis. Associations between CAD, FBG and obesity were assessed in multivariate logistic regression models, adjusting for known risk factors.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREThe presence of CAD.SAMPLE SIZE434 subjects.RESULTSOnly those who underwent coronary angiography and had complete anthropometric data were included in the study: 291 (67.1%) had CAD and 143 (32.9%) had a normal coronary angiogram.The mean body mass index, waist circumference and FBG of the study participants was 30.0 kg/m2, 106.0 cm and 8.8 mmol/L, respectively. The mean FBG was significantly higher in patients with CAD compared to those without CAD (9.5 vs. 7.3 mmol/L, P<.001). Waist circumference was significantly higher in women with CAD compared to women without CAD (111.0 vs. 105.9 cm, P=.036), but no significant difference was observed in men. In a multivariate analysis, FBG was a strong and significant predictor of CAD; however, none of the measures of obesity were significantly associated with CAD. The findings were robust in a sensitivity analysis that excluded patients with known diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSIONSElevated FBG, but not obesity, predicted CAD in a Middle Eastern population. Improved prevention, detection and management of type 2 diabetes should be a priority in this setting.LIMITATIONSThe cross-sectional design cannot control for temporal changes in risk factors and/or reverse causation.