Prevalence and Characteristics of Prediabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in Seemingly Healthy Persons at a Health Check-Up Clinic

Abstract

PurposeThis study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of prediabetes (PreDM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in seemingly healthy persons attending a health check-up clinic at a tertiary care hospital.Patients and MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1213 subjects (339 male, 874 female) who underwent an annual health check-up at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand from 2009 to 2019. Factors that independently related to PreDM were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression analysis with adjustments for age, BMI, and gender.ResultsThe prevalence of PreDM and MetS was 54.3% and 19.7% respectively. Participants with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 38.8–46.4 mmol/mol had significantly higher waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure (BP) compared to those with IFG or HbA1c 38.8–46.4 mmol/mol alone (P < 0.05). Among three PreDM subgroups, the average age was lowest in the HbA1c 38.8–46.4 mmol/mol subgroup (P < 0.001). PreDM participants with MetS were older (p = 0.03), had higher WC, BP, fasting plasma glucose and serum triglyceride level (all P < 0.001) but had lower serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed high MetS score, obesity, and low serum HDL cholesterol level to be independently associated with PreDM with odds ratios of 9.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.03–20.18), 1.8 (95% CI: 1.07–3.04), and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.02–1.96), respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of PreDM and MetS was relatively high in seemingly healthy persons. Distinct PreDM subgroups with or without MetS exhibited diverse clinical and biochemical features suggesting dissimilar pathogenesis.