Tracking correlations and predictors of plasma glucose in young adulthood: A comprehensive analysis from adolescence to young adulthood in TLGS study

Abstract

AimsWe investigated the tracking correlations between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in adolescence with both FPG and 2-hour post-load glucose (2 h-PG) in adulthood, and identified the predictors of FPG and 2 h-PG in young adulthood using traditional risk factors during adolescence and adulthood. MethodsWe included 2188 participants (1033 male) from the Tehran lipid and glucose study within the age ranges 11–18 and 19–40 years during 1999–2018. The area under the curve (AUC) was computed using the growth curve models, and predictors were identified by the linear regression model. ResultsThe partial correlation between AUCs of FPG in adolescence and adulthood was 0.37 (P < 0.001). The correlation between AUCs of FPG in adolescence and 2 h-PG in adulthood was 0.17 (P < 0.001). The AUC of FPG was a significant positive predictor for both FPG and 2 h-PG in young adulthood. Other predictors of adult FPG included sex, as well as BMI and the ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol during both adolescence and adulthood. ConclusionsTracking correlation was observed for FPG, suggesting that monitoring and managing risk factors in adolescence may have implications for future glucose metabolism in young adulthood.