Sex- and Race-Related Differences in Liver-Associated Serum Chemistry Tests in Young Adults in the Cardia Study

Simultaneous multiple automated analyses of liver function can be performed quickly and cheaply, but their usefulness in mass screening is questionable. Reference intervals are frequently applied without regard to race and sex, despite the fact that reported values may vary considerably in relation to these factors. Serum analyte results for greater than 5000 black and white men and women in the CARDIA Study showed clinically and statistically significant differences by race and sex for values of aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin; these differences were not explained by differences in age, body mass, reported ethanol intake, smoking, or oral contraceptive use. Results for at least one of these six tests were out of range in 38% of the men and 19% of the women. Sex- and race-specific reference intervals are recommended to decrease the frequency of values reported as abnormal in otherwise healthy young adults.

Metabolic Contrasts Between Youth and Adults With Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Recently Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: I. Observations Using the Hyperglycemic Clamp

OBJECTIVE

To compare insulin sensitivity (M/I) and β-cell responses in youth versus adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or drug-naïve, recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In 66 youth (80.3% with IGT) and 355 adults (70.7% IGT), hyperglycemic clamps were used to measure 1) M/I, 2) acute (0-10 min [first phase]) C-peptide (ACPR_g) and insulin (AIR_g) responses to glucose, 3) steady-state C-peptide and insulin concentrations at plasma glucose of 11.1 mmol/L, and 4) arginine-stimulated maximum C-peptide (ACPR_max) and insulin (AIR_max) responses at plasma glucose >25 mmol/L. The fasting C-peptide-to-insulin ratio was used as an estimate of insulin clearance.

RESULTS

Insulin sensitivity was 46% lower in youth compared with adults (P < 0.001), and youth had greater acute and steady-state C-peptide (2.3- and 1.3-fold, respectively; each P < 0.001) and insulin responses to glucose (AIR_g 3.0-fold and steady state 2.2-fold; each P < 0.001). Arginine-stimulated C-peptide and insulin responses were also greater in youth (1.6- and 1.7-fold, respectively; each P < 0.001). After adjustment for insulin sensitivity, all β-cell responses remained significantly greater in youth. Insulin clearance was reduced in youth (P < 0.001). Participants with diabetes had greater insulin sensitivity (P = 0.026), with lesser C-peptide and insulin responses than those with IGT (all P < 0.001) but similar insulin clearance (P = 0.109).

CONCLUSIONS

In people with IGT or recently diagnosed diabetes, youth have lower insulin sensitivity, hyperresponsive β-cells, and reduced insulin clearance compared with adults. Whether these age-related differences contribute to declining β-cell function and/or impact responses to glucose-lowering interventions remains to be determined.

Impact of Insulin and Metformin Versus Metformin Alone on β-Cell Function in Youth With Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Recently Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric type 2 diabetes prevalence is increasing, with β-cell dysfunction key in its pathogenesis. The RISE Pediatric Medication Study compared two approaches-glargine followed by metformin and metformin alone-in preserving or improving β-cell function in youth with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes during and after therapy withdrawal.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Ninety-one pubertal, overweight/obese 10-19-year-old youth with IGT (60%) or type 2 diabetes of <6 months duration (40%) were randomized to either 3 months of insulin glargine with a target glucose of 4.4-5.0 mmol/L followed by 9 months of metformin or to 12 months of metformin alone. β-Cell function (insulin sensitivity paired with β-cell responses) was assessed by hyperglycemic clamp at baseline, 12 months (on treatment), and 15 months (3 months off treatment).

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between treatment groups at baseline, 12 months, or 15 months in β-cell function, BMI percentile, HbA_1c, fasting glucose, or oral glucose tolerance test 2-h glucose results. In both treatment groups, clamp-measured β-cell function was significantly lower at 12 and 15 months versus baseline. HbA_1c fell transiently at 6 months within both groups. BMI was higher in the glargine followed by metformin versus metformin alone group between 3 and 9 months. Only 5% of participants discontinued the interventions, and both treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

In youth with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes, neither 3 months of glargine followed by 9 months of metformin nor 12 months of metformin alone halted the progressive deterioration of β-cell function. Alternate approaches to preserve β-cell function in youth are needed.

Review of methods for measuring β-cell function: Design considerations from the Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE) Consortium

The Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE) study was initiated to evaluate interventions to slow or reverse the progression of β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes (T2D). To design the RISE study, we undertook an evaluation of methods for measurement of β-cell function and changes in β-cell function in response to interventions. In the present paper, we review approaches for measurement of β-cell function, focusing on methodologic and feasibility considerations. Methodologic considerations included: (1) the utility of each technique for evaluating key aspects of β-cell function (first- and second-phase insulin secretion, maximum insulin secretion, glucose sensitivity, incretin effects) and (2) tactics for incorporating a measurement of insulin sensitivity in order to adjust insulin secretion measures for insulin sensitivity appropriately. Of particular concern were the capacity to measure β-cell function accurately in those with poor function, as is seen in established T2D, and the capacity of each method for demonstrating treatment-induced changes in β-cell function. Feasibility considerations included: staff burden, including time and required methodological expertise; participant burden, including time and number of study visits; and ease of standardizing methods across a multicentre consortium. After this evaluation, we selected a 2-day measurement procedure, combining a 3-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and a 2-stage hyperglycaemic clamp procedure, augmented with arginine.

HEMOGLOBIN A1C, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND LDL-CHOLESTEROL CONTROL AMONG HISPANIC/LATINO ADULTS WITH DIABETES: RESULTS FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDY/STUDY OF LATINOS (HCHS/SOL)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes who meet target hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure (BP), and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) recommendations, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and statin medication use by heritage and sociodemographic and diabetes-related characteristics.

METHODS

Data were cross-sectional, collected between 2008 and 2011, and included adults age 18 to 74 years who reported a physician diagnosis of diabetes in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (N = 2,148). Chi-square tests compared the prevalence of hemoglobin A1c, BP, and LDL-C targets and ACE/ARB and statin use across participant characteristics. Predictive margins regression was used to determine the prevalence adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of A1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol), BP <130/80 mm Hg, and LDL-C <100 mg/dL was 43.0, 48.7, and 36.6%, respectively, with 8.4% meeting all three targets. Younger adults aged 18 to 39 years with diabetes were less likely to have A1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) or LDL-C <100 mg/dL compared to those aged 65 to 74 years; younger adults were more likely to have BP <130/80 mm Hg (P<.05 for all). Individuals of Mexican heritage were significantly less likely to have A1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) compared to those with Cuban heritage, but they were more likely to have BP <130/80 mm Hg compared to those with Dominican, Cuban, or Puerto Rican heritage (P<.05 for all); there was no difference in LDL-C by heritage. Overall, 38.2% of adults with diabetes were taking a statin, and 50.5% were taking ACE/ARB medications.

CONCLUSION

Hemoglobin A1c, BP, and LDL-C control are suboptimal among Hispanic/Latinos with diabetes living in the U.S. With 8.4% meeting all three recommendations, substantial opportunity exists to improve diabetes control in this population.

ABBREVIATIONS

A1c = hemoglobin A1c; ABC = hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol; ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; ADA = American Diabetes Association; ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI = body mass index; BP = blood pressure; CHD = coronary heart disease; CVD = cardiovascular disease; HCHS/SOL = Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos; LDL-C = low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol; NHANES = National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; PAD = peripheral artery disease.

Detecting prediabetes among Hispanics/Latinos from diverse heritage groups: Does the test matter? Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

The objectives of this analysis were to compare the ability of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post oral load plasma glucose (2hPG), and hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) to identify U.S. Hispanic/Latino individuals with prediabetes, and to assess its cardiovascular risk factor correlates. This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 15,507 adults without self-reported diabetes mellitus from six Hispanic/Latino heritage groups, enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, which takes place in four U.S. communities. The prevalence of prediabetes was determined according to individual or combinations of ADA-defined cut points: FPG=5.6-7.0mmol/L, 2hPG=7.8-11.1mmol/L, and HbA_1c=5.7%-6.4% (39-46mmol/mol). The sensitivity of these criteria to detect prediabetes was estimated. The prevalence ratios (PRs) for selected cardiovascular risk factors were compared among alternative categories of prediabetes versus normoglycemia [FPG<5.6mmol/L and 2hPG<7.8mmol/L and HbA_1c<5.7% (39mmol/mol)]. Approximately 36% of individuals met any of the ADA prediabetes criteria. Using 2hPG as the gold standard, the sensitivity of FPG was 40.1%, HbA_1c was 45.6%, and that of HbA_1c+FPG was 62.2%. The number of significant PRs for cardiovascular risk factors was higher among individuals with isolated 2hPG=7.8-11.1mmol/L, FPG=5.6-7.0mmol/L+HbA_1c=5.7%-6.4%, or those who met the three prediabetes criteria. Assessing FPG, HbA_1c, and cardiovascular risk factors in Hispanics/Latinos at risk might enhance the early prevention of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular complications in this young and growing population, independent of their heritage group.

IDENTIFYING PROBABLE DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG HISPANICS/LATINOS FROM FOUR U.S. CITIES: FINDINGS FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDY/STUDY OF LATINOS

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of American Diabetes Association (ADA) diagnostic criteria to identify U.S. Hispanics/Latinos from diverse heritage groups with probable diabetes mellitus and assess cardiovascular risk factor correlates of those criteria.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of data from 15,507 adults from 6 Hispanic/Latino heritage groups, enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. The prevalence of probable diabetes mellitus was estimated using individual or combinations of ADA-defined cut points. The sensitivity and specificity of these criteria at identifying diabetes mellitus from ADA-defined prediabetes and normoglycemia were evaluated. Prevalence ratios of hypertension, abnormal lipids, and elevated urinary albumin-creatinine ratio for unrecognized diabetes mellitus-versus prediabetes and normoglycemia-were calculated.

RESULTS

Among Hispanics/Latinos (mean age, 43 years) with diabetes mellitus, 39.4% met laboratory test criteria for probable diabetes, and the prevalence varied by heritage group. Using the oral glucose tolerance test as the gold standard, the sensitivity of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c-alone or in combination-was low (18, 23, and 33%, respectively) at identifying probable diabetes mellitus. Individuals who met any criterion for probable diabetes mellitus had significantly higher (P<.05) prevalence of most cardiovascular risk factors than those with normoglycemia or prediabetes, and this association was not modified by Hispanic/Latino heritage group.

CONCLUSION

FPG and hemoglobin A1c are not sensitive (but are highly specific) at detecting probable diabetes mellitus among Hispanics/Latinos, independent of heritage group. Assessing cardiovascular risk factors at diagnosis might prompt multitarget interventions and reduce health complications in this young population.

ABBREVIATIONS

2hPG = 2-hour post-glucose load plasma glucose ADA = American Diabetes Association BMI = body mass index CV = cardiovascular FPG = fasting plasma glucose HbA1c = hemoglobin A1c HCHS/SOL = Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos HDL-C = high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol NGT = normal glucose tolerance NHANES = National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey OGTT = oral glucose tolerance test TG = triglyceride UACR = urine albumin-creatinine ratio.

Arginine is preferred to glucagon for stimulation testing of β-cell function

A key aspect of research into the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes is the availability of reproducible clinical research methodology to assess β-cell function. One commonly used method employs nonglycemic secretagogues like arginine (arg) or glucagon (glgn). This study was designed to quantify the insulin response to arg and glgn and determine test repeatability and tolerability. Obese overnight-fasted subjects with normal glucose tolerance were studied on 4 separate days: twice using arg (5 g iv) and twice with glgn (1 mg iv). Pre- and postinfusion samples for plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were acquired. Arg and glgn challenges were repeated in the last 10 min of a 60-min glucose (900 mg/min) infusion. Insulin and C-peptide secretory responses were estimated under baseline fasting glucose conditions (AIRarg and AIRglgn) and hyperglycemic (AIRargMAX AIRglgnMAX) states. Relative repeatability was estimated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Twenty-three (12 men and 11 women) subjects were studied (age: 42.4 ± 8.3 yr; BMI: 31.4 ± 2.8 kg/m²). Geometric means (95% CI) for baseline-adjusted values AIRarg and AIRglgn were 84 (75-95) and 102 (90-115) μU/ml, respectively. After the glucose infusion, AIRargMAX and AIRglgnMAX were 395 (335-466) and 483 (355-658) μU/ml, respectively. ICC values were >0.90 for AIRarg andAIRargMAX. Glucagon ICCs were 0.83, 0.34, and 0.36, respectively, although the exclusion of one outlier increased the latter two values (to 0.84 and 0.86). Both glgn and arg induced mild adverse events that were transient. Glucagon, but not arginine, induced moderate adverse events due to nausea. Taken together, arginine is preferred to glucagon for assessment of β-cell function.

Durable change in glycaemic control following intensive management of type 2 diabetes in the ACCORD clinical trial

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We aimed to determine the persistence of glycaemic control 1 year after a limited period of intensive glycaemic management of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

4119 ACCORD Trial participants randomised to target HbA1c <6.0% (42 mmol/mol) for 4.0 ± 1.2 years were systematically transitioned to target HbA1c 7.0-7.9% (53-63 mmol/mol) and followed for an additional 1.1 ± 0.2 years. Characteristics of participants with HbA1c <6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or ≥6.5% at transition were compared. Changes in BMI and glucose-lowering medications were compared between those ending with HbA1c <6.5% vs ≥6.5%. Poisson models were used to assess the independent effect of attaining HbA1c <6.5% before transition on ending with HbA1c <6.5%.

RESULTS

Participants with pre-transition HbA1c <6.5% were older with shorter duration diabetes and took less insulin but more non-insulin glucose-lowering agents than those with higher HbA1c. A total of 823 participants achieved a final HbA1c <6.5%, and had greater post-transition reductions in BMI, insulin dose and secretagogue and acarbose use than those with higher HbA1c (p < 0.0001). HbA1c <6.5% at transition predicted final HbA1c <6.5% (crude RR 4.9 [95% CI 4.0, 5.9]; RR 3.9 [95% CI 3.2, 4.8] adjusted for demographics, co-interventions, pre-intervention HbA1c, BMI and glucose-lowering medication, and post-transition change in both BMI and glucose-lowering medication). Progressively lower pre-transition HbA1c levels were associated with a greater likelihood of maintaining a final HbA1c of <6.5%. Follow-up duration was not associated with post-transition rise in HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Time-limited intensive glycaemic management using a combination of agents that achieves HbA1c levels below 6.5% in established diabetes is associated with glycaemic control more than 1 year after therapy is relaxed.

Hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma glucose, and 2-hour plasma glucose distributions in U.S. population subgroups: NHANES 2005-2010

PURPOSE

Although mean concentrations of hemoglobin A1c (A1C), fasting plasma glucose, and 2-hour plasma glucose differ by demographics, it is unclear what other characteristics of the distributions may differ, such as the amount of asymmetry of the distribution (skewness) and shift left or right compared with another distribution (shift).

METHODS

Using kernel density estimation, we created smoothed plots of the distributions of fasting plasma glucose (N = 7250), 2-hour plasma glucose (N = 5851), and A1C (N = 16,209) by age, race-ethnicity, and sex in the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults including people with and without diabetes. We tested differences in distributions using cumulative logistic regression.

RESULTS

The distributions were generally unimodal and right-skewed. All distributions were shifted higher and more right-skewed for older age groups (P < .001 for each marker). Compared with non-Hispanic whites, the distribution of fasting plasma glucose was shifted higher for Mexican-Americans (P = .01), whereas the distribution of A1C was shifted higher for non-Hispanic blacks (P < .001). The distribution of fasting plasma glucose was shifted higher for men (P < .001) and the distribution of 2-hour plasma glucose was shifted higher for women (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

We provide a graphic reference for comparing these distributions and diabetes cut-points by demographic factors.

Early-adulthood cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles among individuals with and without diabetes in the Framingham Heart Study

OBJECTIVE

Many studies of diabetes have examined risk factors at the time of diabetes diagnosis instead of considering the lifetime burden of adverse risk factor levels. We examined the 30-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor burden that participants have up to the time of diabetes diagnosis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Among participants free of CVD, incident diabetes cases (fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL or treatment) occurring at examinations 2 through 8 (1979-2008) of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort were age- and sex-matched 1:2 to controls. CVD risk factors (hypertension, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, obesity) were measured at the time of diabetes diagnosis and at time points 10, 20, and 30 years prior. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare risk factor levels at each time point between diabetes cases and controls.

RESULTS

We identified 525 participants with new-onset diabetes who were matched to 1,049 controls (mean age, 60 years; 40% women). Compared with those without diabetes, individuals who eventually developed diabetes had higher levels of hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; P = 0.003), high LDL (OR, 1.5; P = 0.04), low HDL (OR, 2.1; P = 0.0001), high triglycerides (OR, 1.7; P = 0.04), and obesity (OR, 3.3; P < 0.0001) at time points 30 years before diabetes diagnosis. After further adjustment for BMI, the ORs for hypertension (OR, 1.9; P = 0.02) and low HDL (OR, 1.7; P = 0.01) remained statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

CVD risk factors are increased up to 30 years before diagnosis of diabetes. These findings highlight the importance of a life course approach to CVD risk factor identification among individuals at risk for diabetes.

The front end test stand high performance H- ion source at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

The aim of the front end test stand (FETS) project is to demonstrate that chopped low energy beams of high quality can be produced. FETS consists of a 60 mA Penning Surface Plasma Ion Source, a three solenoid low energy beam transport, a 3 MeV radio frequency quadrupole, a chopper, and a comprehensive suite of diagnostics. This paper details the design and initial performance of the ion source and the laser profile measurement system. Beam current, profile, and emittance measurements are shown for different operating conditions.

The association between symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia and mortality in type 2 diabetes: retrospective epidemiological analysis of the ACCORD study

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether there is a link between hypoglycaemia and mortality among participants in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial.

DESIGN

Retrospective epidemiological analysis of data from the ACCORD trial. Setting Diabetes clinics, research clinics, and primary care clinics.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients were eligible for the ACCORD study if they had type 2 diabetes, a glycated haemoglobin (haemoglobin A(1C)) concentration of 7.5% or more during screening, and were aged 40-79 years with established cardiovascular disease or 55-79 years with evidence of subclinical disease or two additional cardiovascular risk factors. Intervention Intensive (haemoglobin A(1C) <6.0%) or standard (haemoglobin A(1C) 7.0-7.9%) glucose control.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia, manifest as either blood glucose concentration of less than 2.8 mmol/l (<50 mg/dl) or symptoms that resolved with treatment and that required either the assistance of another person or medical assistance, and all cause and cause specific mortality, including a specific assessment for involvement of hypoglycaemia.

RESULTS

10 194 of the 10 251 participants enrolled in the ACCORD study who had at least one assessment for hypoglycaemia during regular follow-up for vital status were included in this analysis. Unadjusted annual mortality among patients in the intensive glucose control arm was 2.8% in those who had one or more episodes of hypoglycaemia requiring any assistance compared with 1.2% for those with no episodes (53 deaths per 1924 person years and 201 deaths per 16 315 person years, respectively; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.93). A similar pattern was seen among participants in the standard glucose control arm (3.7% (21 deaths per 564 person years) v 1.0% (176 deaths per 17 297 person years); adjusted HR 2.30, 95% CI 1.46 to 3.65). On the other hand, among participants with at least one hypoglycaemic episode requiring any assistance, a non-significantly lower risk of death was seen in those in the intensive arm compared with those in the standard arm (adjusted HR 0.74, 95% 0.46 to 1.23). A significantly lower risk was observed in the intensive arm compared with the standard arm in participants who had experienced at least one hypoglycaemic episode requiring medical assistance (adjusted HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.99). Of the 451 deaths that occurred in ACCORD up to the time when the intensive treatment arm was closed, one death was adjudicated as definitely related to hypoglycaemia.

CONCLUSION

Symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia was associated with an increased risk of death within each study arm. However, among participants who experienced at least one episode of hypoglycaemia, the risk of death was lower in such participants in the intensive arm than in the standard arm. Symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia does not appear to account for the difference in mortality between the two study arms up to the time when the ACCORD intensive glycaemia arm was discontinued.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT00000620.

The effects of baseline characteristics, glycaemia treatment approach, and glycated haemoglobin concentration on the risk of severe hypoglycaemia: post hoc epidemiological analysis of the ACCORD study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate potential determinants of severe hypoglycaemia, including baseline characteristics, in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial and the association of severe hypoglycaemia with levels of glycated haemoglobin (haemoglobin A(1C)) achieved during therapy.

DESIGN

Post hoc epidemiological analysis of a double 2x2 factorial, randomised, controlled trial.

SETTING

Diabetes clinics, research clinics, and primary care clinics.

PARTICIPANTS

10 209 of the 10 251 participants enrolled in the ACCORD study with type 2 diabetes, a haemoglobin A(1C) concentration of 7.5% or more during screening, and aged 40-79 years with established cardiovascular disease or 55-79 years with evidence of significant atherosclerosis, albuminuria, left ventricular hypertrophy, or two or more additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease (dyslipidaemia, hypertension, current smoker, or obese). Interventions Intensive (haemoglobin A(1C) <6.0%) or standard (haemoglobin A(1C) 7.0-7.9%) glucose control.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Severe hypoglycaemia was defined as episodes of "low blood glucose" requiring the assistance of another person and documentation of either a plasma glucose less than 2.8 mmol/l (<50 mg/dl) or symptoms that promptly resolved with oral carbohydrate, intravenous glucose, or glucagon.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of hypoglycaemia was 3.14% in the intensive treatment group and 1.03% in the standard glycaemia group. We found significantly increased risks for hypoglycaemia among women (P=0.0300), African-Americans (P<0.0001 compared with non-Hispanic whites), those with less than a high school education (P<0.0500 compared with college graduates), aged participants (P<0.0001 per 1 year increase), and those who used insulin at trial entry (P<0.0001). For every 1% unit decline in the haemoglobin A(1C) concentration from baseline to 4 month visit, there was a 28% (95% CI 19% to 37%) and 14% (4% to 23%) reduced risk of hypoglycaemia requiring medical assistance in the standard and intensive groups, respectively. In both treatment groups, the risk of hypoglycaemia requiring medical assistance increased with each 1% unit increment in the average updated haemoglobin A(1C) concentration (standard arm: hazard ratio 1.76, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.06; intensive arm: hazard ratio 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21).

CONCLUSIONS

A greater drop in haemoglobin A(1C) concentration from baseline to the 4 month visit was not associated with an increased risk for hypoglycaemia. Patients with poorer glycaemic control had a greater risk of hypoglycaemia, irrespective of treatment group. Identification of baseline subgroups with increased risk for severe hypoglycaemia can provide guidance to clinicians attempting to modify patient therapy on the basis of individual risk.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00000620.

Trends in cardiovascular disease risk factors in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus in the Framingham Heart Study

BACKGROUND

Individuals with diabetes mellitus are at 2- to 3-fold increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) relative to those without diabetes. Our objective was to examine CVD risk factor level changes among individuals with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1970 to 2005 in the Framingham Heart Study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 4195 participants (3990 with no diabetes and 205 with diabetes) 50 years of age and 3495 participants (3178 with no diabetes and 317 with diabetes) 60 years of age. Contemporaneous CVD risk factor levels were measured; linear regression models were used to assess the interaction between diabetes status and calendar year on CVD risk factor levels. Among 50-year-olds without diabetes mellitus, there was an increase in body mass index of 0.39 kg/m(2) per 10 years, whereas for those with diabetes, there was an increase of 2.52 kg/m(2) (P value for the diabetes-by-calendar year interaction [P for interaction] <0.001). For low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the mean decrease was -7.43 mg/dL per decade (nondiabetes) and -15.5 mg/dL for diabetes (P for interaction=0.002). For systolic blood pressure, the mean decrease was -3.35 mm Hg per decade (nondiabetes) and -3.50 mm Hg for diabetes (P for interaction=0.97). The direction of the trends for those with diabetes relative to those without diabetes was similar for 60-year-olds.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with individuals without diabetes mellitus, individuals with diabetes experienced a greater increase in body mass index, a greater decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a similar magnitude of decline in systolic blood pressure. Individuals with diabetes mellitus have not experienced the necessary declines in CVD risk factors to overcome their increased risk of CVD. Further efforts are needed to aggressively control CVD risk factors among individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Trends in all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality among women and men with and without diabetes mellitus in the Framingham Heart Study, 1950 to 2005

BACKGROUND

Despite population declines in all-cause mortality, women with diabetes mellitus may have experienced an increase in mortality rates compared with men.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined change in all-cause, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular disease mortality rates among Framingham Heart Study participants who attended examinations during an "earlier" (1950 to 1975; n=930 deaths) and a "later" (1976 to 2001; n=773 deaths) time period. Diabetes mellitus was defined as casual glucose > or =200 mg/dL, fasting plasma glucose > or =126 mg/dL, or treatment. Among women, the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality in the later versus the earlier time period were 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 0.70; P<0.0001) for those without diabetes mellitus and 0.48 (95% confidence interval, 0.32 to 0.71; P=0.002) for those with diabetes mellitus. Similar results were observed in men. Among women and men, the HR of cardiovascular disease mortality declined among those with and without diabetes mellitus. Non-cardiovascular disease mortality declined among women without diabetes mellitus (HR, 0.76; P=0.01), whereas no change was observed among women with diabetes mellitus or among men with or without diabetes mellitus. Individuals with versus those without diabetes mellitus were at increased risk of all-cause mortality in the earlier (HR, 2.44; P<0.0001) and later (HR, 1.95; P<0.0001) time periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Reductions in all-cause mortality among women and men with diabetes mellitus have occurred over time. However, mortality rates among individuals with diabetes mellitus remain approximately 2-fold higher compared with individuals without diabetes mellitus.

The association of plasma fibrinogen concentration with diabetic microvascular complications in young adults with early-onset of type 2 diabetes

AIMS

Diabetic nephropathy is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The underlying etiology is not fully understood but may be related to changes in inflammatory and hemostatic markers with kidney disease. We investigated the associations of the markers with microvascular complications in Pima Indians (PI) with early-onset type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

C-reactive protein, interleukine-6, fibrinogen, D-dimer, plasmin-antiplasmin complex and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were measured in 104 PI (age: 32+/-4 y) with diabetes and 59 (32+/-4 y) with fasting glucose <110 mg/dl and 2-h glucose <140 mg/dl. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was used as marker of nephropathy. Severity of retinopathy was classified in the worse eye by direct ophthalmoscopy as none, background and proliferative.

RESULTS

Of these markers, only fibrinogen was associated with ACR (r=0.25, p<0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, percentage Pima heritage, smoking status, diabetes duration, blood pressure and use of aspirin, antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic agents, general linear models (with natural log-transformed values of fibrinogen and ACR as dependent and independent variables, respectively) revealed that a one percent increase in ACR would yield a 0.02% increase in the fibrinogen (beta=0.02, p<0.05). Plasma fibrinogen was also significantly increased with severity of diabetic retinopathy (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased plasma fibrinogen concentration was associated with diabetic microvascular disease, in particular with nephropathy. This may help to explain the etiologic link between nephropathy and CVD.

Increasing cardiovascular disease burden due to diabetes mellitus: the Framingham Heart Study

BACKGROUND

Marked reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality have occurred in the United States over the last 50 years. We tested the hypothesis that the relative burden of CVD attributable to diabetes mellitus (DM) has increased over the past 5 decades.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Participants aged 45 to 64 years from the Framingham Heart Study, who attended examinations in an "early" time period (1952 to 1974), were compared with those who attended examinations in a later time period (1975 to 1998). The risk of CVD events (n=133 among those with and 1093 among those without DM) attributable to DM in the 2 time periods was assessed with Cox proportional hazards models; population attributable risk of DM as a CVD risk factor was calculated for each time period. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for DM as a CVD risk factor was 3.0 (95% CI, 2.3 to 3.9) in the earlier time period and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.9 to 3.2) in the later time period. The population attributable risk for DM as a CVD risk factor increased from 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8% to 6.9%) in the earlier time period to 8.7% (95% CI, 5.9% to 11.4%) in the later time period (P for attributable risk ratio=0.04), although multivariable adjustment resulted in attenuation of these findings (P=0.12); most of these observations were found among men.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of CVD attributable to DM has increased over the past 50 years in Framingham. These findings emphasize the need for increased efforts to prevent DM and to aggressively treat and control CVD risk factors among those with DM.

Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease in Older People: The Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prospective association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older people and to evaluate the effect of lowering the threshold for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) on the prevalence of IFG and MetS and the risk of CVD.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Four field centers in U.S. communities.

PARTICIPANTS

Three thousand five hundred eighty-five subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study free of diabetes mellitus and CVD at baseline (mean age 72, 62% female, 14% black).

MEASUREMENTS

Baseline measures of MetS components and adjudicated incident CVD events. MetS (2001) was defined first using the original criteria from the Third Adult Treatment Panel Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (> or =3 of the following: large waist circumference (women >88 cm, men >102 cm), elevated triglycerides (> or =1.70 mmol/L), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (men <1.04 mmol/L, women <1.30 mmol/L), elevated fasting glucose (6.1-6.9 mmol/L), and high blood pressure (> or =130/85 mmHg or self-reported use of medications for hypertension). Subjects were also classified according to the revised definition of the MetS (2005) that applies the lower threshold for fasting glucose (5.6-6.9 mmol/L).

RESULTS

During follow-up (median 11 years), 818 coronary heart disease (CHD), 401 stroke, and 554 congestive heart failure (CHF) events occurred. Age- and race-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CHD, stroke, and CHF were 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-1.57), 0.94 (95% CI = 0.73-1.21), and 1.40 (95% CI = 1.12-1.76) for women and 1.35 (95% CI = 1.10-1.66), 1.51 (95% CI = 1.08-2.12), and 1.47 (95% CI = 1.14-1.90) for men, respectively. Overall, women and men with MetS (2005) were 20% to 30% more likely to experience any CVD event than subjects without MetS (2005). Using the lower cut-point for IFG resulted in a near tripling in IFG prevalence (16% to 46%) and an additional 9% classified with MetS (2005) but HRs similar to those estimated from the original MetS (2001) criteria. High blood pressure was the component most strongly associated with incident CHD.

CONCLUSION

Results from this study of an elderly, population-based cohort provide support for earlier investigations in primarily middle-aged populations that link the presence of MetS with the development of CVD and further underscore the importance of recognizing and treating its individual components, particularly high blood pressure.

Magnesium Intake and Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Young Adults

Background— Studies suggest that magnesium intake may be inversely related to risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus and that higher intake of magnesium may decrease blood triglycerides and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, the longitudinal association of magnesium intake and incidence of metabolic syndrome has not been investigated.

Methods and Results— We prospectively examined the relations between magnesium intake and incident metabolic syndrome and its components among 4637 Americans, aged 18 to 30 years, who were free from metabolic syndrome and diabetes at baseline. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Diet was assessed by an interviewer-administered quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and magnesium intake was derived from the nutrient database developed by the Minnesota Nutrition Coordinating Center. During the 15 years of follow-up, 608 incident cases of the metabolic syndrome were identified. Magnesium intake was inversely associated with incidence of metabolic syndrome after adjustment for major lifestyle and dietary variables and baseline status of each component of the metabolic syndrome. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of magnesium intake, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of metabolic syndrome for participants in the highest quartile was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 0.91; P for trend <0.01). The inverse associations were not materially modified by gender and race. Magnesium intake was also inversely related to individual component of the metabolic syndrome and fasting insulin levels.

Conclusions— Our findings suggest that young adults with higher magnesium intake have lower risk of development of metabolic syndrome.

Trends in cardiovascular complications of diabetes

CONTEXT

Despite reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality over the past few decades, it is unclear whether adults with and without diabetes have experienced similar declines in CVD risk.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether adults with and without diabetes experienced similar declines in incident CVD in 1950-1995.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Participants aged 45-64 years from the Framingham Heart Study original and offspring cohorts who attended examinations in 1950-1966 ("earlier" time period; 4118 participants, 113 with diabetes) and 1977-1995 ("later" time period; 4063 participants, 317 with diabetes). Incidence rates of CVD among those with and without diabetes were compared between the earlier and later periods.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease death, and stroke.

RESULTS

Among participants with diabetes, the age- and sex-adjusted CVD incidence rate was 286.4 per 10,000 person-years in the earlier period and 146.9 per 10,000 in the later period, a 49.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.7%-69.4%) decline. Among participants without diabetes, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate was 84.6 per 10,000 person-years in the earlier period and 54.3 per 10,000 person-years in the later period, a 35.4% (95% CI, 25.3%-45.4%) decline. Hazard ratios for diabetes as a predictor of incident CVD were not different in the earlier vs later periods.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a 50% reduction in the rate of incident CVD events among adults with diabetes, although the absolute risk of CVD is 2-fold greater than among persons without diabetes. Adults with and without diabetes have benefited similarly during the decline in CVD rates over the last several decades. More aggressive treatment of CVD risk factors and further research on diabetes-specific factors contributing to CVD risk are needed to further reduce the high absolute risk of CVD still experienced by persons with diabetes.

Risk factors for the metabolic syndrome: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, 1985-2001

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the association of the metabolic syndrome with demographic characteristics and to identify modifiable risk factors for development of the metabolic syndrome.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Men and women (55%) aged 18-30 years from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study without the metabolic syndrome at baseline (n = 4,192, 49% black) were followed-up from 1985 to 2001. Incident metabolic syndrome, defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, was ascertained 7, 10, and 15 years after baseline. Risk factors were measured via clinical examination and standardized questionnaires.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted rate of metabolic syndrome was 10 per 1,000 person-years (n = 575). Metabolic syndrome risk increased with age and was higher among black participants and those with less than a high school education. Higher baseline BMI, no alcohol intake (versus one to three drinks per day), higher intake of dietary carbohydrates, and lower intake of crude fiber were each associated with an increased risk for the metabolic syndrome (relative risk [RR] ranging from 1.3 to 1.9), and physical activity was protective (RR 0.84 [95% CI 0.76-0.92]). In models adjusting simultaneously for all factors, black participants and women were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome. Risk for metabolic syndrome increased 23% (20-27%) per 4.5 kg (10 lb) of weight gained, whereas regular physical activity over time versus low activity was protective (RR 0.49 [0.34-0.70]).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI and weight gain are important risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. Regular physical activity may counter this risk.

Metabolic and inflammation variable clusters and prediction of type 2 diabetes: factor analysis using directly measured insulin sensitivity

Factor analysis, a multivariate correlation technique, has been used to provide insight into the underlying structure of the metabolic syndrome. The majority of previous factor analyses, however, have used only surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity; very few have included nontraditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (CRP); and only a limited number have assessed the ability of factors to predict type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate, using factor analysis, the clustering of metabolic and inflammation variables using data from 1,087 nondiabetic participants in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS) and to determine the association of these clusters with risk of type 2 diabetes at follow-up. This study includes information on directly measured insulin sensitivity (S(i)) from the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test among African-American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white subjects aged 40-69 years. Principal factor analysis of data from nondiabetic subjects at baseline (1992-1994) identified three factors, which explained 28.4, 7.4, and 6% of the total variance in the dataset, respectively. Based on factor loadings of >or= 0.40, these factors were interpreted as 1) a "metabolic" factor, with positive loadings of BMI, waist circumference, 2-h glucose, log triglyceride, and log PAI-1 and inverse loadings of log S(i) + 1 and HDL; 2) an "inflammation" factor, with positive loadings of BMI, waist circumference, fibrinogen, and log CRP and an inverse loading of log S(i) + 1; and 3) a "blood pressure" factor, with positive loadings of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The results were similar within strata of ethnicity, and there were only subtle differences in sex-specific analyses. In a prospective analysis, each of the factors was a significant predictor of diabetes after a median follow-up period of 5.2 years, and each factor remained significant in a multivariate model that included all three factors, although this three-factor model was not significantly more predictive than models using either impaired glucose tolerance or conventional CVD risk factors. Factor analysis identified three underlying factors among a group of inflammation and metabolic syndrome variables, with insulin sensitivity loading on both the metabolic and inflammation variable clusters. Each factor significantly predicted diabetes in multivariate analysis. The findings support the emerging hypothesis that chronic subclinical inflammation is associated with insulin resistance and comprises a component of the metabolic syndrome.

The association of fasting glucose levels with congestive heart failure in diabetic adults ≥65 years

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine if fasting glucose levels are an independent risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF) in elderly individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) with or without coronary heart disease (CHD).

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus and CHF frequently coexist in the elderly. It is not clear whether fasting glucose levels in the setting of DM are a risk factor for incident CHF in the elderly.

METHODS

A cohort of 829 diabetic participants, age > or =65 years, without prevalent CHF, was followed for five to eight years. The Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to determine the risk of CHF by fasting glucose levels. The cohort was categorized by the presence or absence of prevalent CHD.

RESULTS

For a 1 standard deviation (60.6 mg/dl) increase in fasting glucose, the adjusted hazard ratios for incident CHF among participants without CHD at baseline, with or without an incident myocardial infarction (MI) or CHD event on follow-up, was 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.24 to 1.61; p < 0.0001). Among those with prevalent CHD at baseline, with or without another incident MI or CHD event on follow-up, the corresponding adjusted hazard ratio was 1.27 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.58; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Among older adults with DM, elevated fasting glucose levels are a risk factor for incident CHF. The relationship of fasting glucose to CHF differs somewhat by the presence or absence of prevalent CHD.

Insulin Resistance and Hypertension

The association between insulin resistance and insulinemia and hypertension is controversial. We examined the relation between insulin resistance and hypertension in 564 non-Hispanic whites (NHW), 505 Hispanics (H), and 413 African Americans (AA) who participated in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS). Insulin sensitivity was measured with a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal model analysis. The prevalence of hypertension was 32.5%, 49.4%, and 32.3% in NHW, AA, and H, respectively ( P <0.001). When subjects without diabetes in all ethnic groups were combined, age, male sex, race (AA), body mass index (BMI), and insulin resistance, but not fasting insulin, were significantly associated with hypertension. When each ethnic group was analyzed separately, insulin resistance was significantly associated with hypertension in NHW and H, but not AA. After excluding subjects taking antihypertensive medications, male sex, BMI, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance, but not fasting insulin, were significant determinants of blood pressure. When the 3 ethnic groups were analyzed separately, insulin resistance was significantly associated with blood pressure in H, but not NHW, or AA. Neither insulin resistance nor fasting insulin was significantly associated with hypertension or blood pressure in subjects with diabetes of the 3 ethnic groups after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and waist. In conclusion, insulin resistance, but not insulinemia, was related to hypertension and blood pressure in subjects without diabetes, but ethnic differences in these relations appear to exist. Neither insulin resistance nor insulinemia was related to hypertension or blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes in the 3 ethnic groups.

The relationship of fasting serum radioimmune insulin levels to incident coronary heart disease in an insulin-treated diabetic cohort

It is not known whether insulin levels, in the setting of insulin treatment, are an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). We studied a cohort of 116 insulin-treated individuals, 65 yr or older, who were followed for 5.6-9 yr. All were free of CHD at baseline. There were 47 incident CHD events. In Cox proportional hazards modeling, with fasting immune-reactive insulin levels as a continuous variable, the hazard ratio for CHD was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). When insulin levels were divided into intervals, those in the third interval [43-150 microU/ml (258-900 pmol/liter)] had an adjusted 30% increased relative risk (95% confidence interval, 0.57, 2.98) compared with those in the first interval [<20 microU/ml (<120 pmol/liter)]. Those in the fourth interval [151-400 microU/ml (906-2400 pmol/liter)] had an adjusted 5.6-fold increased risk (2.3-13.1; P < 0.0001). Approximately 15% of the cohort had such elevated insulin levels. Immune-reactive insulin levels were strongly correlated with specific insulin, proinsulin, and insulin antibody levels. Markedly elevated fasting immune-reactive insulin levels were an independent risk factor for CHD in this study of insulin-treated older adults. These observational findings should be confirmed through larger prospective studies, given their implications for insulin therapy.

Increased proinsulin levels and decreased acute insulin response independently predict the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the insulin resistance atherosclerosis study

Previous studies have indicated that beta-cell dysfunction predicts the development of diabetes, although it is unknown whether the use of combinations of insulin secretory measures further improves prediction. The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study is a prospective, multicenter, epidemiological study of the relationship between insulin sensitivity and the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. At baseline, fasting concentrations of insulin, intact proinsulin (PI), and split PI were measured, and acute insulin response (AIR) was determined during a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGTT). Subjects who were nondiabetic at baseline (n = 903) were reexamined after 5 years of follow-up; 148 had developed diabetes. In separate logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, clinic, and ethnicity, 1 SD differences in measures of beta-cell dysfunction were associated with diabetes incidence (AIR: odds ratio [OR] 0.37, 95% CI 0.27-0.52; intact PI: OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.57-2.30; split PI: OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.63-2.31). After additional adjustment for BMI, impaired glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity, these measures continued to be significantly associated with risk of diabetes (all P < 0.0001). Furthermore, in models that included both PI and AIR, each was an independent predictor, and individuals who had combined low AIR and high PI experienced the highest diabetes risk. In conclusion, both low AIR and high PI independently predicted diabetes in a well-characterized multiethnic population. Although fasting PI is simpler to assess, determining AIR from an FSIGTT may further improve prediction. If pharmacological agents to prevent diabetes are proved to be efficacious in ongoing clinical trials, then it may be beneficial to perform FSIGTTs to identify better (for intensive intervention) prediabetic subjects who would ultimately require lifelong pharmacological therapy.

Glucose, blood pressure, and lipid control in older people with and without diabetes mellitus: the Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk-factor treatment and control in older adults with normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose, and diabetes mellitus and whether those with diabetes mellitus had better risk factor control than older adults with normal fasting glucose.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of data from population-based, prospective cohort study of risk factors for cardio-vascular and cerebrovascular disease in older people (Cardiovascular Health Study).

SETTING

Community-based.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS

Fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol and its subfractions, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and body mass index.

RESULTS

There were 579 (18%) cohort members with diabetes mellitus (77% receiving antidiabetic medication, 23% with fasting glucose > or =126 mg/dL and no treatment), 213 (6%) with impaired fasting glucose, and 2,582 (77%)with normal fasting glucose. Of diabetic participants, 12% had recommended fasting glucose levels of less than 110 mg/dL. Of participants with hypertension, a larger proportion of diabetic participants than nondiabetic participants (89% versus 75%, P < .01) was treated with antihypertensive agents, but a smaller proportion of diabetic participants had recommended blood pressure levels of 129/85 mmHg or lower than nondiabetic participants had recommended blood pressure levels of 139/89 mmHg or lower (27% vs 48%, P < .01). Diabetic dyslipidemic participants were treated less often with lipid-lowering therapy (26% versus 55%, P < .01) and achieved recommended low-density lipoprotein goals less often (8%versus 54%, P < .01) than nondiabetic dyslipidemic participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, treatment and control of cardiovascular risk factors were suboptimal in this older population, especially among those with diabetes mellitus. Optimizing risk-factor control can improve health outcomes in older adults with and without diabetes mellitus.

Fasting and 2-hour postchallenge serum glucose measures and risk of incident cardiovascular events in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study

BACKGROUND

The contributions of fasting and 2-hour postchallenge glucose level to cardiovascular events remain ill-defined, especially for nondiabetic adults. This study examined the relative predictive power of fasting and 2-hour glucose level on cardiovascular event risk.

METHODS

A total of 4014 community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who participated in the baseline visit of the Cardiovascular Health Study and who were without treated diabetes or previous myocardial infarction or stroke were eligible for analyses. Participants with treated diabetes at baseline were excluded. Incident myocardial infarction or stroke, or coronary death, was the outcome of interest. Age-, sex-, and race-adjusted proportional hazards regression models described individual and joint associations between baseline measures of fasting and 2-hour postchallenge glucose level and event risk.

RESULTS

There were 764 incident cardiovascular events during 8.5 years of follow-up. Fasting glucose level of 115 mg/dL (6.4 mmol/L) or more was associated with an increased cardiovascular risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.66 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.39-1.98]) in adjusted analyses compared with fasting glucose level less than 115 mg/dL. Two-hour glucose level was associated with a linear risk (HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.00-1.04] per 10 mg/dL [0.6 mmol/L]) that included an additional increase in risk for 2-hour glucose level of 154 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) or more (HR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.04-1.59]) in adjusted analyses. In joint fasting and 2-hour glucose models, only 2-hour glucose level remained predictive of event risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-hour glucose level was better than fasting glucose level alone at identifying older adults at increased risk of major incident cardiovascular events.

Prevalence of clinical and isolated subclinical cardiovascular disease in older adults with glucose disorders: the Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVE

Clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly prevalent among people with diabetes. However, there is little information regarding the prevalence of subclinical CVD and its relation to clinical CVD in diabetes and in the glucose disorders that precede diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, aged > or = 65 years (n = 5,888), underwent vascular and metabolic testing. Individuals with known disease in the coronary, cerebral, or peripheral circulations were considered to have clinical disease. Those without any clinical disease in whom CVD was detected by ultrasonography, electrocardiography, or ankle arm index in any of the three vascular beds were considered to have isolated subclinical disease.

RESULTS

Approximately 30% of the cohort had clinical disease, and approximately 60% of the remainder had isolated subclinical disease. In those with normal glucose status, isolated subclinical disease made up most of the total CVD. With increasing glucose severity, the proportion of total CVD that was clinical disease increased; 75% of men and 66% of women with normal fasting glucose status had either clinical or subclinical CVD. Among those with known diabetes, the prevalence was approximately 88% (odds ratio [OR] 2.46 for men and 4.22 for women, P < 0.0001). There were intermediate prevalences and ORs for those with impaired fasting glucose status and newly diagnosed diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated subclinical CVD is common among older adults. Glucose disorders are associated with an increased prevalence of total CVD and an increased proportion of clinical disease relative to subclinical disease.

Association between blood pressure level and the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and total mortality: the cardiovascular health study

BACKGROUND

Recent reports have drawn attention to the importance of pulse pressure as a predictor of cardiovascular events. Pulse pressure is used neither by clinicians nor by guidelines to define treatable levels of blood pressure.

METHODS

In the Cardiovascular Health Study, 5888 adults 65 years and older were recruited from 4 US centers. At baseline in 1989-1990, participants underwent an extensive examination, and all subsequent cardiovascular events were ascertained and classified.

RESULTS

At baseline, 1961 men and 2941 women were at risk for an incident myocardial infarction or stroke. During follow-up that averaged 6.7 years, 572 subjects had a coronary event, 385 had a stroke, and 896 died. After adjustment for potential confounders, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure were directly associated with the risk of incident myocardial infarction and stroke. Only SBP was associated with total mortality. Importantly, SBP was a better predictor of cardiovascular events than DBP or pulse pressure. In the adjusted model for myocardial infarction, a 1-SD change in SBP, DBP, and pulse pressure was associated with hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.24 (1.15-1.35), 1.13 (1.04-1.22), and 1.21 (1.12-1.31), respectively; and adding pulse pressure or DBP to the model did not improve the fit. For stroke, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.34 (1.21-1.47) with SBP, 1.29 (1.17-1.42) with DBP, and 1.21 (1.10-1.34) with pulse pressure. The association between blood pressure level and cardiovascular disease risk was generally linear; specifically, there was no evidence of a J-shaped relationship. In those with treated hypertension, the hazard ratios for the association of SBP with the risks for myocardial infarction and stroke were less pronounced than in those without treated hypertension.

CONCLUSION

In this population-based study of older adults, although all measures of blood pressure were strongly and directly related to the risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events, SBP was the best single predictor of cardiovascular events.

Carotid artery atherosclerosis in type-2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with and without symptomatic coronary artery disease (The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study)

Type-2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increase in the risk of clinical coronary artery disease (CAD). It has been suggested that diabetic subjects without clinical CAD should be treated as aggressively for cardiovascular risk factors as subjects with CAD. This would be warranted if diabetic subjects without clinical CAD would have accelerated CAD similar to that of nondiabetic subjects with symptomatic CAD. To assess this suggestion, we compared the intima-media wall thickness in the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) in 43 diabetic subjects with clinical CAD, 446 diabetic subjects without clinical CAD, 47 nondiabetic subjects with clinical CAD, and 975 nondiabetic subjects without clinical CAD (all aged 40 to 70 years) in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study. All data were adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and clinical results. Both diabetes and CAD were associated with increased atherosclerosis in the CCA. Likewise, diabetes was significantly associated with increased atherosclerosis in the ICA; however, CAD was not associated with ICA intima-media wall thickness. As expected, diabetic subjects with CAD had the greatest intima-media wall thickness, whereas nondiabetic subjects without CAD had the least atherosclerosis. Subjects with diabetes but without CAD had slightly greater intima-media wall thickness than nondiabetic subjects with CAD, although these differences were not statistically significant. Thus, diabetic subjects even without CAD had extensive atherosclerosis in the carotid artery. These results support the suggestion that diabetic subjects should be treated as aggressively for cardiovascular risk factor management as subjects with pre-existing CAD.

Diabetes mellitus: subclinical cardiovascular disease and risk of incident cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality

Previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus, newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, and impaired glucose tolerance are important determinants of the risk of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have evaluated the relation of patients with subclinical CVD, diabetes, and impaired glucose tolerance and "normal" subjects and the risk of clinical CVD in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Diabetes (1343), impaired glucose tolerance (1433), and normal (2421) were defined by World Health Organization criteria at baseline in 1989 to 1990. The average follow-up was 6.4 years (mean age 73 years). Diabetics had a higher prevalence of clinical and subclinical CVD at baseline. Compared with diabetes in the absence of subclinical disease, the presence of subclinical CVD and diabetes was associated with significant increased adjusted relative risk of death (1.5, CI 0.93 to 2.41), relative risk of incident coronary heart disease (1.99, CI 1.25 to 3.19), and incident myocardial infarction (1.93, CI 0.96 to 3.91). The risk of clinical events was greater for participants with a history of diabetes compared with newly diagnosed diabetics at baseline. Compared with nondiabetic nonhypertensive subjects without subclinical disease, patients with a combination of diabetes, hypertension, and subclinical disease had a 12-fold increased risk of stroke. Fasting blood glucose levels were a weak predictor of incident coronary heart disease as were most other risk factors. Subclinical CVD was the primary determinant of clinical CVD among diabetics in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes in three American Indian populations. A comparison of the 1997 American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria and the 1985 World Health Organization diagnostic criteria: the Strong Heart Study

OBJECTIVE

In 1997, the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended three new sets of criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes that were different from those established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1985. One of these three methods was based on a fasting plasma glucose value only. This article compares ADA criteria with WHO criteria by applying them to three subgroups of American Indians in the Strong Heart Study who had no known diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Strong Heart Study is a prospective epidemiological study of vascular disease in three American Indian populations aged 45-74 years. During the baseline examination from 1988 to 1991, participants without diagnosed diabetes underwent a fasting glucose test and a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. These values were used to compare the ADA and WHO diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS

By using fasting and 2-h glucose values, prevalence rates of undiagnosed diabetes were 15.9% according to WHO criteria and 14.4% according to ADA criteria. The overall agreement rate was 65%, and the weighted kappa statistic was 0.474, which indicates moderate agreement. The age-specific analysis showed that, among participants between 45 and 54 years of age, the prevalence rates of undiagnosed diabetes were 13.4% according to WHO criteria and 12.7% according to ADA criteria. Among those aged 55-74 years, the rates were 18.7% according to WHO criteria and 16.3% according to ADA criteria. Thus, the difference in the prevalence rates when using WHO and ADA criteria, although generally small in this population, was three times higher in the older group (2.4%) than the difference in the younger group (0.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The Strong Heart Study found that prevalence rates of undiagnosed diabetes determined by ADA criteria and WHO criteria were similar in its American Indian population. The data suggest that the difference between the two criteria may increase as age increases. Longitudinal data will be needed to evaluate further the utility of the two criteria.

Cardiovascular disease in older adults with glucose disorders: comparison of American Diabetes Association criteria for diabetes mellitus with WHO criteria

BACKGROUND

The new fasting American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus rely mainly on fasting blood glucose concentrations and use a lower cut-off value for diagnosis than the WHO criteria. We aimed to assess the sensitivity of these criteria for the detection of cardiovascular disease, the main complication of diabetes mellitus in the elderly.

METHODS

We did a cross-sectional and prospective analysis of 4515 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study, an 8 year longitudinal study designed to identify factors related to the onset and course of cardiovascular disease in adults aged at least 65 years. We calculated the prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular disease for the ADA and WHO criteria.

FINDINGS

There was a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease among individuals with impaired glucose or newly diagnosed diabetes by both criteria than among those with normal glucose concentrations. However, because fewer individuals had abnormal glucose states by the fasting ADA criteria (22.3%) than by the WHO criteria (46.8%), the number of cases of cardiovascular disease attributable to abnormal glucose states was a third of that attributable by the WHO criteria (53 vs 159 cases per 10,000). For the two sets of criteria, the relative risk for incident cardiovascular disease (mean follow-up 5.9 years) was higher in individuals with impaired glucose and newly diagnosed diabetes than in those with normal glucose. Individuals classified as normal by the fasting ADA criteria had a higher absolute number of incident events (455 of 581 events) than those classified as normal by the WHO criteria (269 of 581 events). Fasting ADA criteria were therefore less sensitive than the WHO criteria for predicting cardiovascular disease among individuals with abnormal glucose (sensitivity, 28% vs 54%).

INTERPRETATION

The new fasting ADA criteria seem to be less predictive than the WHO criteria for the burden of cardiovascular disease associated with abnormal glucose in the elderly.

Increased blood glucose and insulin, body size, and incident colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Abdominal obesity--an elevated level of visceral adipose tissue--has been linked to colorectal cancer. Furthermore, elevated levels of visceral adipose tissue have been associated with hyperinsulinemia, and insulin is a growth factor in the colon. We assessed whether waist circumference, a surrogate measure of visceral adipose tissue, and metabolic parameters associated with visceral adipose tissue were related to colorectal cancer.

METHODS

In the Cardiovascular Health Study cohort, we examined the relationship of baseline measurements of body size, glucose, insulin, and lipoproteins to incident colorectal cancer. All P values are two-sided.

RESULTS

Among 5849 participants, 102 incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified. Individuals in the highest quartile of fasting glucose had a nearly twofold increased risk of colorectal cancer (relative risk [RR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-3.1), and the linear trend RR (LT RR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0-1.5) for fasting glucose level was statistically significant (P =. 02). Glucose and insulin levels 2 hours after oral glucose challenge also exhibited statistically significant associations with colorectal cancer (2-hour glucose levels: RR = 2.4 [95% CI = 1.2-4. 7]/LT RR = 1.3 [95% CI = 1.0-1.6; P =.02]; 2-hour insulin levels: RR = 2.0 [95% CI = 1.0-3.8]/LT RR = 1.2 [95% CI = 1.0-1.5; P =.04]). Analysis of fasting insulin levels suggested a threshold effect, with values above the median associated with colorectal cancer (RR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.1-2.4; P =.02). Higher levels of waist circumference were also statistically significantly associated with colorectal cancer (RR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.1-3.3; P =.02).

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide, to our knowledge, the first direct evidence of an association between elevated visceral adipose tissue level, its associated metabolic effects, and colorectal cancer.

Markers of inflammation and prediction of diabetes mellitus in adults (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study): a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have common antecedents. Since markers of inflammation predict coronary heart disease and are raised in patients with type 2 diabetes, we investigated whether they predict whether people will develop type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

12,330 men and women, aged 45-64 years, were followed up for a mean of 7 years. We analysed the association between different markers of acute inflammation and subsequent diagnosis of diabetes. In a subgroup of 610 individuals selected originally for an unrelated atherosclerosis case-control study, we also investigated diabetes associations with total sialic acid and orosomucoid, haptoglobin, and alpha1-antitrypsin.

FINDINGS

1335 individuals had a new diagnosis of diabetes. Adjusted odds ratios for developing diabetes for quartile extremes were 1.9 (95% CI 1.6-2.3) for raised white-cell count, 1.3 (1.0-1.5) for low serum albumin, and 1.2 (1.0-1.5) for raised fibrinogen. In the subgroup analysis, individuals with concentrations of orosomucoid and sialic acid of more than the median had odds ratios of 7.9 (2.6-23.7) and 3.7 (1.4-9.8), respectively. Adjustment for body-mass index and waist-to-hip ratio lessened the associations; those for white-cell count (1.5 [1.3-1.8]), orosomucoid (7.1 [2.1-23.7]), and sialic acid (2.8 [1.0-8.1]) remained significant.

INTERPRETATION

Markers of inflammation are associated with the development of diabetes in middle-aged adults. Although autoimmunity may partly explain these associations, they probably reflect the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Factor VIII and other hemostasis variables are related to incident diabetes in adults. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate whether selected hemostasis variables, some of which may reflect inflammation or endothelial dysfunction, are independently associated with the development of diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied a biethnic cohort of 12,330 men and women, 45-64 years of age, of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. New cases of diabetes were diagnosed by a reported physician diagnosis, hypoglycemic medication use, or a casual or fasting serum glucose level of > or = 11.1 or > or = 7 mmol/l, respectively.

RESULTS

Over an average follow-up of 7 years, 1,335 new cases of diabetes were detected. The odds ratios (4th versus 1st quartile) of developing diabetes, adjusted by logistic regression for age, sex, race, study center, family history of diabetes, fasting glucose, physical activity, and smoking, were 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5) for fibrinogen and 1.4 (1.1-1.6) for factor VII. Associations for factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, and activated partial thromboplastin time were found to be 1.8 (1.3-2.3), 1.4 (1.1-1.8), and 0.63 (0.49-0.82), respectively, in women. Although further adjustment for BMI and waist-to-hip ratio diminished the relationships, a highly statistically significant association (P = 0.001) remained for factor VIII (1.6 [1.2-2.1]) in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Factor VIII and other hemostasis variables are associated with the development of diabetes in middle-aged adults. These findings support a role for inflammation and, particularly in women, endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Antidiabetic treatment trends in a cohort of elderly people with diabetes. The cardiovascular health study, 1989-1997

OBJECTIVE

This study characterizes the pharmaceutical treatment of type 2 diabetes from 1989-1990 to 1996-1997 in an elderly cohort.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 5,888 adults aged > or = 65 years were recruited and attended a baseline clinic visit in 1989-1990 (n = 5,201, original cohort) or 1992-1993 (n = 687. African-American [new] cohort) as participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Fasting serum glucose (FSG) was measured at baseline. Medication use was ascertained by drug inventory at all annual clinic visits. Diabetes was defined at baseline as insulin or oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) use or as having an FSG > or = 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl), the current consensus definition of diabetes.

RESULTS

A total of 387 (7%) original (FSG = 9.8 mmol/l [177 mg/dl]) and 115 (17%) new (FSG = 10.6 mmol/l [191 mg/dl]) cohort members had pharmacologically treated diabetes at baseline. Among those in the original and in the new cohorts who survived follow-up, respectively, OHA use decreased from 80 to 48% (P < 0.001) and from 67 to 50% (P < 0.003) and insulin use increased from 20 to 33% (P = 0.001) and from 33 to 37% (P = 0.603). There were 396 (8%) original (FSG = 8.8 mmol/l [159 mg/dl]) and 45 (7%) new (FSG = 10.0 mmol/l [181 mg/dl]) cohort members with diabetes untreated at baseline. Among them, respectively, OHA use reached 38 and 30% and insulin use reached 6 and 16% in 1996-1997.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes was common in this elderly cohort, and > 80% of treated patients with diabetes at baseline were not achieving fasting glucose goals of < or = 6.7 mmol/l (120 mg/dl). Many untreated at baseline remained untreated after 7 years of follow-up.

Insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Relationship to cardiovascular risk factors: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study

OBJECTIVE

Among nondiabetic subjects, insulin resistance has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, impaired fibrinolysis, and coagulation. Less is known about the relationship between insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

To examine this issue, we determined insulin sensitivity (SI) in 479 type 2 diabetic subjects by minimal model analyses of frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS), a large multicenter study of insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease in African-Americans, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites. We defined insulin-sensitive subjects as having SI > or = 1.61 x 10(-4) min-1.microU-1.ml-1 (above median in nondiabetic subjects of all ethnic groups in the IRAS). Using this definition, only 37 type 2 diabetic subjects were insulin sensitive, and the remaining 442 were insulin resistant.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, and clinic, insulin resistance was significantly correlated with total triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol, VLDL triglyceride, fibrinogen, PAI-1, and fasting glucose, and was inversely correlated with HDL cholesterol level and LDL size. Carotid intimal-medial thickness was greater in insulin-resistant than in insulin-sensitive subjects, but this difference was not statistically significant. After further adjustment for waist circumference (marker of visceral adiposity), insulin-resistant subjects continued to have higher plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and VLDL triglyceride levels, lower HDL cholesterol levels, and smaller LDL particle size than did insulin-sensitive subjects. After further adjustment for fasting glucose levels, these results were very similar.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic subjects have more atherogenic cardiovascular risk factor profiles than insulin-sensitive type 2 diabetic subjects and that this is only partially related to increased obesity and an adverse body fat distribution.

Risk factor clustering in the insulin resistance syndrome. The Strong Heart Study

The objective of this study was to examine how the major components of the insulin resistance syndrome relate to each other and to macrovascular disease in American Indians in the Strong Heart Study. The study cohort (4,228 resident tribal members 45-74 years old) underwent a personal interview and a physical examination between July 1989 and January 1992 at three centers: Arizona, Oklahoma, and North and South Dakota; blood samples were drawn and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Factor analysis was used to assess the clustering and interdependence of groups of insulin resistance syndrome variables. Within both diabetic and nondiabetic groups, three factors emerged. In nondiabetic participants, a cluster of glucose, body mass index, and insulin accounted for 35% (male) and 32% (female) of the total variance in all variables considered, and a cluster of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure accounted for 25% and 22% in men and women, respectively. Both clusters were positively associated with coronary heart disease but not peripheral vascular disease. In diabetic participants, the combination of systolic and diastolic blood pressures was the most important factor, but the cluster was not associated with coronary heart disease or peripheral vascular disease. A component containing high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose had a positive association with coronary heart disease in diabetic women and with peripheral vascular disease in both sexes. The association of clusters of risk factors and their relations with coronary heart disease provide important clues that may be used in understanding the metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance and diabetes.

Impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes, and carotid wall thickness: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) exhibit an increased risk of atherosclerosis as measured by the thickness of the carotid artery.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We examined the relationship between glucose tolerance status and subclinical atherosclerosis in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS). The IRAS is an epidemiological study of 1,625 Hispanic, African-American, and white men and women, with approximately equal numbers of subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), IGT, and type 2 diabetes as assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test. Half of those with diabetes were previously unaware of their condition and were defined as having new diabetes. Persons using insulin were excluded. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) was measured as an index of subclinical atherosclerosis using B-mode ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Adjusted for demographics and smoking, CCA-IMT increased most notably at the level of established diabetes (802, 822, 831, and 896 microm for NGT, IGT, new diabetes, and established diabetes, respectively). Adjustment for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, which tended to worsen across glucose tolerance category, further minimized the slightly graded relationship. The relationship with the ICA-IMT was steeper and again suggested that the increased wall thickness is associated with diabetes, not with IGT. The relationship between glucose tolerance category and IMT was similar in men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed considerably greater IMT among persons with established diabetes but no significant increase in persons with IGT. These data suggest that the increased risk of CHD observed in persons with diabetes may largely develop after the onset of overt diabetes.

Relationship between changes in dietary sucrose and high density lipoprotein cholesterol: the CARDIA study. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults

PURPOSE

Cross-sectional data from several observational studies have suggested that dietary sucrose may be inversely associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). This study examined associations between energy from dietary sucrose and HDL-C at baseline, year 7 and longitudinally (year 7 minus baseline) in a cohort of young black and white men and women from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

METHODS

The sample included 4734 black men, black women, white men and white women, ages 18-30 years, in 1985-86 (baseline); 3513 at year 7; and 3335 for longitudinal analyses. Multivariate analyses was used with adjustment for age, BMI, cigarettes smoked per day, physical activity score, and alcohol intake.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses indicated that energy intake from sucrose was inversely associated with HDL-C for each race-gender group at baseline, year 7, and longitudinally from baseline to year 7. This association was significant at baseline for black men, and white men and women (p < 0.01); at year 7 for white men and black women (p < 0.01), and longitudinally for white men, white women, and black women (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The consistent inverse associations between energy from dietary sucrose and HDL-C observed in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, and in different race and gender groups in CARDIA suggest that lowering dietary sucrose intake may be beneficial for those who may have low HDL-C.