Does Losing 5-7% of Prediabetic Body Weight from a Diabetes Prevention Program decrease Cardiovascular Risks?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• One-third of adults have prediabetes, a condition increasing risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) utilizes lifestyle modifications to promote weight loss and prevent type 2 diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between successful completion of the DPP and reductions in body weight and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risks.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based, virtual DPP intervention.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-site cohort study involving 14 prediabetic patients.
• A 12-month virtual DPP intervention with weekly then monthly one-hour sessions.
• Measurement of body mass index (BMI), smoking status, anti-hypertensive medications, hemoglobin A1c (A1c), fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) at baseline, six, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements observed from baseline to six months in ASCVD risk scores (p < 0.01), BMI (p < 0.01), HDL (p < 0.01), and physical activity (p =< 0.01).
• Statistically significant improvements in total cholesterol were noted at six months (p = 0.048).
• Improvements in ASCVD risk, BMI, HDL, and physical activity were sustained at 12 months.

Conclusions:

• Completion of the DPP program led to significant improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including ASCVD risk, HDL, BMI, physical activity, and total cholesterol.
• These pilot findings support the efficacy of structured, evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions for weight loss and ASCVD risk reduction in prediabetic adults.