Impaired glucose tolerance and atherosclerosis

Objective To observe the relationship between impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and atherosclerosis (AS). Methods The subjects were recruited among individuals who had previously abnormal glycaemia but were non-diabetic, and those who had cardiovascular disease (such as coronary heart disease, stroke or hypertension) or its risk factor (s) (such as blood lipid abnormality). All subjects underwent 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and physical examination. Their medical history was documented simultaneously. The fasting blood lipid profile was evaluated with an automatic biochemistry machine. By employing a high resolution B-mode ultrasonography with higher frequency probe as 7.5 MHz, the intima smoothness, and intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque(s) were observed in bilateral common carotid arteries. Results The intima smoothness in subjects with IGT (n=51) was poorer than that in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (n=97) (P0.05), the mean values of IMT and atherosclerosis score as well as occurrence of abnormal mean IMT were all more marked in subjects with IGT than those in NGT (all P0.05). All above parameters regarding atherosclerosis in subjects with IGT were similar to those in diabetics (n=73). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the association of IGT with AS was independent of some of other variables, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, coronary heart disease, stroke, smoking, gender and body mass index, but not independent of age, waist-hip ratio, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and hypertension in various degrees. Conclusion Subjects with IGT, like diabetics, carry significant manifestations of AS as compared with subjects with NGT. And AS in cases of IGT is independent of coexisted cardiovascular diseases and some of the cardiovascular risk factors.