Association of fasting glucose levels with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: An 8-year follow-up study in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND

Identification of the population at high risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is critical for its prevention. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of fasting blood glucose (FBG) to predict ASCVD.

METHODS

In all, 18 610 participants, aged 35-74 years at enrollment, were included in this prospective study. Baseline information was collected using a standardized questionnaire, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. During follow-up, disease status and vital information were updated. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate associations, with normal FBG (70-99 mg/dL) as the reference group. Anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic status, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors were included in the multivariate-adjusted model.

RESULTS

After 7.8 years follow-up (145 223 person-years), there were 519 cases of ASCVD. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI), for ASCVD in patients with low FBG (<70 mg/dL), impaired fasting glucose (IFG; 100-125 mg/dL), and diabetes (≥126 mg/dL, use of antidiabetic medication and/or self-report) were 1.35 (0.84, 2.15), 1.02 (0.81, 1.27), and 1.68 (1.26, 2.23), respectively. Although IFG was associated with the development of diabetes (multivariate-adjusted HR 3.67; 95% CI 3.20, 4.21), it was only associated with incident ASCVD in the univariate model (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.23, 1.88). The association of diabetes with coronary heart disease was more pronounced than that with stroke. Gender and residential differences were also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, IFG was associated with the development of diabetes but not incident ASCVD. Prevention strategies to reduce the development of diabetes in people with IFG are critical to improve cardiovascular health.