Fasting glucose level and all-cause or cause-specific mortality in Korean adults: a nationwide cohort study

Fasting blood glucose level and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Glycemic control is crucial in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with diabetes. Although fasting blood glucose (FBG) is the most commonly used index to measure blood glucose levels, there is currently no evidence supporting the association between FBG level and mortality risk in PD patients.

METHODS

A total of 3548 diabetic PD patients between 2002 and 2018 were enrolled from the National Health Insurance Service database of Korea. We investigated the association between FBG levels and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Patients with FBG levels 80-99 mg/dL exhibited the highest survival rates, whereas those with FBG levels ≥180 mg/dL had the lowest survival rates. Compared with FBG levels 80-99 mg/dL, the adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval for all-cause mortality significantly increased as follows: 1.02 (0.87-1.21), 1.41 (1.17-1.70), 1.44 (1.18-2.75), and 2.05 (1.73-2.42) for patients with FBG 100-124 mg/dL, FBG 125-149 mg/dL, FBG 150-179 mg/dL, and FBG ≥180 mg/dL, respectively. The risk for all-cause mortality also showed an increasing pattern in patients with FBG levels <80 mg/L. The risk of cardiovascular death significantly increased as FBG levels exceeded 125 mg/dL. However, the risk of infection-related and malignancy-related deaths did not show a significant increase with increasing FBG levels.

CONCLUSION

There was an increase in the risk of all-cause mortality as FBG levels exceeded 125 mg/dL in PD patients with diabetes, and the risk of cardiovascular death showed a strong correlation with FBG levels compared with other causes of death.

Polyphenols in foods: a potential strategy for preventing and managing the postprandial hyperglycemic response

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant health risk worldwide, and effective management strategies are needed. Polyphenols exhibit diverse biological functions, are abundant in various plants, and influence carbohydrate digestion and absorption. This review provides a comprehensive overview of clinical evidence regarding the relationship between dietary polyphenols and the postprandial hyperglycemic response. Human intervention studies have demonstrated the benefits of polyphenol-rich foods in improving glucose and insulin metabolism, underscoring their role in preventing T2DM. These findings highlight the potential of polyphenol-rich foods for managing hyperglycemia and mitigating T2DM risk and provide insight into effective dietary strategies for glycemic control and overall health.

Associations of fasting plasma glucose with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in older Chinese diabetes patients: A population-based cohort study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Our aim was to investigate the optimal fasting glucose (FPG) range in Chinese older adults with type 2 diabetes, and to clarify whether the optimal range varies according to the control of risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The baseline survey for the cohort study began in 2018, with follow up ending in 2022. Our study enrolled 59,030 older diabetes patients with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participants were divided into nine groups based on their baseline glycemic status. The association between FPG and the risk of adverse outcomes was mainly estimated by multivariate Cox proportional risk models and restricted spline analysis.

RESULTS

During the 4-year follow-up period, a total of 5,637 deaths and 4,904 CVD events occurred. The associations of FPG with mortality and CVD events showed J-shaped curves. Among all-cause deaths, the hazard ratios for FPG ≤4.50 and >11.50 mmol/L were 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-1.71) and 1.84 (95% CI 1.67-2.02). Among CVD, the hazard ratios for FPG ≤4.50 and >11.50 mmol/L were 1.31 (95% CI 1.13-1.53) and 1.71 (95% CI 1.54-1.89), respectively. The optimal FPG ranges of all-cause mortality and CVD were 5.50-7.50 and 4.50-7.50 mmol/L, respectively. For participants with at least two risk factors, the optimal FPG levels were higher than those with fewer risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In older Chinese diabetes patients, the FPG ranges related to the minimum death and CVD event rates were 5.50-7.50 and 4.50-7.50 mmol/L, respectively. Patients with more cardiovascular risk factors had higher optimal blood glucose ranges than those with fewer risk factors.

Prospective cohort studies underscore the association of abnormal glycemic measures with all-cause and cause-specific mortalities

The role of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) in predicting all-cause and cause-specific mortalities remains elusive. This study included 384,420 adults from the Shanghai cohort and the UK Biobank (UKB) cohort. After multivariable adjustment in the Cox models, FPG ≥7.0 mmol/L or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% increased the risk of all-cause mortality, FPG ≥5.6 mmol/L or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% increased CVD-related mortality, and higher or lower TyG index increased all-cause and CVD-related mortalities in the Shanghai cohort; FPG ≥5.6 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥ 5.7%, TyG index <8.31 or ≥9.08 increased the risks of all-cause, CVD-related, and cancer-related mortalities in the UKB cohort. FPG or HbA1c increased the discrimination of the conventional risk model in predicting all-cause and CVD-related mortalities in both cohorts. Thus, increased levels of FPG and HbA1c and U-shaped TyG index increase the risks of all-cause especially CVD-related mortalities.

6-Year trajectory of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and mortality risk among individuals with normal FPG at baseline: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality; however, the associations between long-term FPG trajectory groups and mortality were unclear, especially among individuals with a normal FPG level at the beginning. The aims of this study were to examine the associations of FPG trajectories with the risk of mortality and identify modifiable lifestyle factors related to these trajectories.

METHODS

We enrolled 50,919 individuals aged ≥ 20 years old, who were free of diabetes at baseline, in the prospective MJ cohort. All participants completed at least four FPG measurements within 6 years after enrollment and were followed until December 2011. FPG trajectories were identified by group-based trajectory modeling. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the associations of FPG trajectories with mortality, adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education level, occupation, smoking, drinking, physical activity, body mass index, baseline FPG, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease or stroke, and cancer. Associations between baseline lifestyle factors and FPG trajectories were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

We identified three FPG trajectories as stable (n = 32,481), low-increasing (n = 17,164), and high-increasing (n = 1274). Compared to the stable group, both the low-increasing and high-increasing groups had higher risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.18 (95% CI 0.99-1.40) and 1.52 (95% CI 1.09-2.13), respectively), especially among those with hypertension. Compared to participants with 0 to 1 healthy lifestyle factor, those with 6 healthy lifestyle factors were more likely to be in the stable group (ORlow-increasing = 0.61, 95% CI 0.51-0.73; ORhigh-increasing = 0.20, 95% CI 0.13-0.32).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with longitudinally increasing FPG had a higher risk of mortality even if they had a normal FPG at baseline. Adopting healthy lifestyles may prevent individuals from transitioning into increasing trajectories.

Differential risk of 23 site-specific incident cancers and cancer-related mortality among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: a population-based cohort study with 9.7 million Korean subjects

INTRODUCTION

Although an association between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and cardiovascular disease or overall mortality has been reported, it is unclear whether there is an association between MAFLD and cancer incidence or mortality. We aimed to investigate the differential risk of all- and site-specific cancer incidence and mortality according to MAFLD subgroups categorized by additional etiologies of liver disease.

METHODS

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we stratified the participants into three groups: (1) single-etiology MAFLD (S-MAFLD) or MAFLD of pure metabolic origin; (2) mixed-etiology MAFLD (M-MAFLD) or MAFLD with additional etiological factor(s) (i.e., concomitant liver diseases and/or heavy alcohol consumption); and (3) non-MAFLD. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were defined using the fatty liver index and the BARD score, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to estimate the risk of cancer events.

RESULTS

Among the 9,718,182 participants, the prevalence of S-MAFLD and M-MAFLD was 29.2% and 6.7%, respectively. During the median 8.3 years of follow-up, 510,330 (5.3%) individuals were newly diagnosed with cancer, and 122,774 (1.3%) cancer-related deaths occurred among the entire cohort. Compared with the non-MAFLD group, the risk of all-cancer incidence and mortality was slightly higher among patients in the S-MAFLD group (incidence, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.04; mortality, aHR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.04-1.08) and highest among patients with M-MAFLD group (incidence, aHR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.29-1.32; mortality, aHR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.42-1.48, respectively). The M-MAFLD with fibrosis group (BARD score ≥ 2) showed the highest relative risk of all-cancer incidence (aHR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.36-1.39), followed by the M-MAFLD without fibrosis group (aHR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.06-1.11). Similar trends were observed for cancer-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

MAFLD classification, by applying additional etiologies other than pure metabolic origin, can be used to identify a subgroup of patients with poor cancer-related outcomes.

Lean or diabetic subtypes predict increased all-cause and disease-specific mortality in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) encompasses diverse disease groups with potentially heterogeneous clinical outcomes. We investigated the risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality in MAFLD subgroups.

METHODS

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, participants were divided into four subgroups: no MAFLD, MAFLD-diabetes, MAFLD-overweight/obese, and MAFLD-lean. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) values for all-cause and disease-specific mortality according to MAFLD subgroups were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Among 9,935,314 participants, those with MAFLD-diabetes showed the highest risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality. The HRs (95% CI) for all-cause mortality were 1.61 (1.59-1.63), 1.36 (1.34-1.38), and 1.19 (1.18-1.20) in the MAFLD-diabetes, MAFLD-lean, and MAFLD-overweight/obese groups, respectively. The magnitude of cardiovascular disease and cancer-related risk showed the same pattern. The risk of liver-related mortality in the MAFLD-lean group (HR: 2.84, 95% CI: 2.72-2.97) was comparable with that in the MAFLD-diabetes group (HR: 2.85, 95% CI: 2.75-2.95). When stratified by body mass index, liver-related mortality was the highest in MAFLD-lean individuals in the underweight group (HR, 5.03, 95% CI: 4.23-5.97).

CONCLUSIONS

The MAFLD-lean and MAFLD-diabetes groups had a higher risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality than did the MAFLD-overweight/obese group. Classifying MAFLD subgroups based on metabolic phenotypes might help risk stratification of patients with MAFLD.

The role of age on the risk relationship between prediabetes and major morbidities and mortality: Analysis of the Hong Kong diabetes surveillance database of 2 million Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Intensive lifestyle modification showed variable success in the prevention of major clinical events and mortality among people with prediabetes. We propose that age may partly explain the heterogeneity and that health hazards related to prediabetes are age-specific.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of a territory-wide diabetes surveillance dataset from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority between 2000 and 2019. Prediabetes was defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. Proportional Cox regression was performed, stratified by baseline age categories (20-39, 40-59, 60-79 and ≥80 years).

FINDINGS

1,630,942 individuals were included in the analysis. Compared with normoglycaemia, prediabetes was associated with greater hazards for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in most age groups but the effect size attenuated with ascending age (p value for trend <0·05). In the youngest and in the oldest age categories, the respective hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of prediabetes vs normoglycaemia were 1·79 (1·59, 2·01) and 1·00 (0·95, 1·05) for CVD, and 1·36 (1·20, 1·55) and 0·99 (0·97, 1·02) for all-cause mortality. Similar associations were found for chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, all-site cancer, all-site infection, subtypes of CVD, and cause-specific mortality. The associations became attenuated but remained after excluding people who later developed diabetes and adjusting for metabolic factors. Similar associations were observed in prediabetes defined by impaired fasting glucose, but not HbA1c.

INTERPRETATION

Prediabetes is associated with higher risk of major clinical events, even excluding subsequent development of diabetes and adjusting for metabolic factors. The risk relationships are stronger in young than older people.

FUNDING

This study did not receive any specific funding.

Adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors as a preventable risk factor for severe hypoglycemia in people with type 2 diabetes: A longitudinal nationwide cohort study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

We investigated the associations between a combination of lifestyle factors and changes to these factors and the subsequent risk of severe hypoglycemia (SH) in type 2 diabetes patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Individuals with adult type 2 diabetes who underwent consecutive 2-year interval health screening programs from 2009 to 2012 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database were included and followed up until 2018. Information on history of smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical activity, as well as changes to these factors, was obtained. The primary outcome was incident SH.

RESULTS

Of the 1,490,233 type 2 diabetes patients, 30,539 (2.1%) patients developed SH. Current smokers and heavy drinkers had increased risk of SH, compared with non-smokers and non-drinkers, respectively (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.23-1.34; hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.15-1.30). However, regular physical activity was associated with reduced SH risk (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.77-0.82). A combination of unhealthy lifestyle habits was associated with increased SH risk in a dose-dependent fashion (P for trend <0.001). Compared with participants without changes in their unhealthy lifestyles, participants who improved lifestyles had decreased risk of SH.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater adherence to healthy lifestyle factors and any improvement in unhealthy lifestyle habits were associated with a substantially lower risk of SH in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Duration of diabetes mellitus and risk of kidney and bladder cancer: a longitudinal nationwide cohort study

Previous studies have suggested that diabetes mellitus (DM) may increase the risk of kidney and bladder cancer; however, little is known about the duration of DM. We aimed to analyze the risk of kidney and bladder cancer according to the duration of DM in a longitudinal nationwide cohort. This study was conducted in a cohort of 9,773,462 participants ≥ 20 years old who underwent a National Health Examination in 2009 and were followed up until December 2017. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the risk of kidney and bladder cancer in relation to the duration of DM. During follow-up (mean 7.3 years), kidney and bladder cancer occurred in 11,219 and 13,769 participants, respectively. DM was associated with an increased risk of kidney and bladder cancer (hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI); 1.14, 1.09-1.20 and 1.23, 1.17-1.28, respectively). Compared to fasting glucose < 100 mg/dL, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and longer DM duration were associated with increased risks (HR, 95% CI): IFG (1.05, 1.01-1.10), new-onset DM (1.13, 1.03-1.24), DM < 5 years (1.11, 1.02-1.20), and DM ≥ 5 years (1.25, 1.15-1.36) in kidney cancer; IFG (1.05, 1.01-1.09), new-onset DM (1.10, 1.01-1.19), DM < 5 years (1.26, 1.18-1.35), and DM ≥ 5 years (1.34, 1.26-1.43) in bladder cancer, respectively. Our findings suggest that the subjects with IFG and longer duration of DM had a higher risk for kidney and bladder cancer than those without DM.

Trends of severe hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes in Korea: A longitudinal nationwide cohort study

To estimate the trends in the prevalence of severe hypoglycemia (SH) in patients with type 2 diabetes in Korea, we investigated the total number of SH episodes among type 2 diabetes patients aged ≥30 years who visited the emergency department between 2002 and 2019, using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The prevalence of SH events increased from 2002 to 2012; however, it has decreased gradually since 2012. In 2019, the prevalence of SH was 0.6%, with an incidence rate of 4.43 per 1,000 person-years. Approximately 23,000 SH events occur every year in Korea. Although the incidence is steadily decreasing, there are a considerable number of SH events in type 2 diabetes patients. The decline in the incidence of SH seems to most likely be due to the increased prescription rate of hypoglycemic agents without hypoglycemia risk, less-strict treatment goals and the individualization of therapy.

Frequency of Exposure to Impaired Fasting Glucose and Risk of Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Metabolic abnormalities, such as impaired fasting glucose (IFG), are dynamic phenomena; however, it is unclear whether the timing of IFG exposure and cumulative exposure to IFG are related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality risk.

METHODS

Data were extracted from a nationwide population-based cohort in South Korea for adults (n=2,206,679) who were free of diabetes and had 4 years of consecutive health examination data. Fasting blood glucose levels of 100 to 125 mg/dL were defined as IFG, and the number of IFG diagnoses for each adult in the 4-year period was tabulated as the IFG exposure score (range, 0 to 4). Adults with persistent IFG for the 4-year period received a score of 4.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 8.2 years. There were 24,820 deaths, 13,502 cases of stroke, and 13,057 cases of myocardial infarction (MI). IFG exposure scores of 1, 2, 3, and 4 were associated with all-cause mortality (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.15; aHR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.20; aHR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.25; aHR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.25, respectively) compared with an IFG exposure score of 0. Adjusting for hypertension and dyslipidemia attenuated the slightly increased risk of MI or stroke associated with high IFG exposure scores, but significant associations for allcause mortality remained.

CONCLUSION

The intensity of IFG exposure was associated with an elevated risk of all-cause mortality, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. The association between IFG exposure and CVD risk was largely mediated by the coexistence of dyslipidemia and hypertension.

Young-onset type 2 diabetes in South Korea: a review of the current status and unmet need

The prevalence of young-onset (diagnosis at age < 40 years) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally. Young-onset T2DM has a common pathophysiology of glucose dysregulation as in late-onset T2DM. However, it presents a greater association with obesity and a more rapid decline in β-cell function than late-onset T2DM. Accumulating evidence indicates that disease progression in young-onset T2DM is rapid, resulting in early and frequent development of microvascular and macrovascular complications, as well as premature death. Improper management and low adherence to medical therapy are important issues in young-onset T2DM. This review discusses the epidemiology, disease entity, and clinical issues associated with young-onset T2DM. We also present the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with young-onset T2DM in South Korea.