Association of atherosclerotic plaque and prediabetes. Observational study with propensity score matching

Subjects with prediabetes, defined as impaired fasting blood glucose (IFG), have an increased cardiovascular risk. The main objective of the study is to establish whether prediabetes is associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerotic plaque (pATS) regardless of age, sex, arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factores.

Observational study with propensity score matching (PSM). We included 481 subjects with prediabetes (according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association) and 481 controls matched for age, sex, and hypertension. Subjects with coronary artery disease and/or peripheral vascular disease and/or diabetes were excluded. pATS was defined as the presence of plaque detected by carotid doppler ultrasound.

The prevalence of pATS was 34.7% in prediabetic subjects compared to 28.8% in controls. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) after controlling for age, sex, hypertension, and HDL-c was 1.29 (95% CI: 1.12-1.48; P<.001). The prevalence of pATS was 42.3% in hypertensive prediabetic subjects compared to 32.9% in controls (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.05-2.12; P: .02). We also observed higher pATS (18.7%) in younger subjects (≤55 years) compared to controls (11.1%) of the same age (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.05-3.2; P: .03).

Subjects with prediabetes were associated with a higher prevalence of pATS. The possibility (odds) of presenting subclinical atherosclerosis was 29% higher in subjects with prediabetes after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension and HDL-c.