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Fasting glucose, obesity, and coronary artery calcification in community-based people without diabetes

Martin K Rutter1, Joseph M Massaro, Udo Hoffmann

  • 1University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. martin.rutter@manchester.ac.uk

Diabetes Care
|July 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Obesity, not impaired fasting glucose, independently predicts coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a community-based population. These findings highlight obesity

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular disease research
  • Metabolic health and atherosclerosis
  • Epidemiology of chronic conditions

Background:

  • Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis.
  • Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and obesity are prevalent metabolic conditions.
  • Independent associations of IFG and obesity with CAC require clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and obesity are independently associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC).
  • To investigate the relationship between IFG, obesity, and CAC in a community-based cohort free from known vascular disease or diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Multidetector computed tomography was used to assess CAC in 3,054 participants from the Framingham Heart Study.
  • Participants were free from known vascular disease or diabetes.
  • Statistical models adjusted for hypertension, lipids, smoking, and medication to test independent associations.

Main Results:

  • Obesity was significantly associated with high CAC (odds ratio 1.4-1.6) in multivariable models.
  • Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was not independently associated with high CAC after adjusting for confounders.
  • Nonlinear, J-shaped relationships were observed between high CAC and BMI, waist circumference, and fasting glucose.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity, but not IFG, is independently associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in this cohort.
  • These findings emphasize the critical role of obesity in the development of CAC.
  • The study underscores the public health importance of managing obesity given its link to atherosclerosis.
Abstract

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