Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) Prevalence Among Hypolipidemic Treatment- naïve Patients with Hypertension

Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) predisposes to the future development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may also be associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Hypertension is an established CVD risk factor.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IFG and the associated anthropometric and metabolic disturbances in patients with hypertension.

Methods: Consecutive hypertensive patients not on any hypolipidemic treatment and without a diagnosis of T2DM were included. IFG was defined as serum glucose ≥100 mg/dl according to the American Diabetes Association criteria.

Results: The total sample consisted of 1381 participants; between them, 78 patients were diagnosed to have T2DM and they were excluded from the analyses, leaving a final sample of 1303 hypertensive patients [41.0% men; median age 58 (range: 15-90) years] not on any hypolipidemic treatment and without a diagnosis of T2DM. IFG was identified in 469 patients (36%). IFG was more prevalent in males than in females (42.4% vs. 31.8%, p<0.001). Patients with IFG had greater body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and uric acid serum levels compared with patients with normal serum glucose levels.

Conclusion: This study reveals that in a sample of patients with hypertension, one out of three has IFG. This is more prevalent among men. IFG is associated with the presence of a more aggravated anthropometric and biochemical profile, possibly associated with an increased CVD risk.