HOMA-estimated insulin resistance is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic subjects: prospective data from the Verona Diabetes Complications Study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Conventional CVD risk factors (sex, age, smoking, plasma lipids, blood pressure, and metabolic control) and insulin resistance (estimated by HOMA) were evaluated at baseline in 1,326 patients with type 2 diabetes examined within the Verona Diabetes Complications Study. At baseline and after a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, CVD was assessed by medical history, physical examination, electrocardiography, and echo-Doppler of carotid and lower limb arteries. Death certificates and medical records of subjects who died during the follow-up were carefully scrutinized to identify cardiovascular deaths. In statistical analyses, CVD was an aggregate end point including both fatal and nonfatal coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease as well as ischemic electrocardiographic abnormalities and vascular lesions identified by echo-Doppler.


RESULTS
At baseline, 441 subjects were coded positive for CVD (prevalent cases). Incident cases numbered 126. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that, along with sex, age, smoking, HDL/total cholesterol ratio, and hypertension, HOMA-IR was an independent predictor of both prevalent and incident CVD. A 1-unit increase in (log)HOMA-IR value was associated with an odds ratio for prevalent CVD at baseline of 1.31 (95% CI 1.10-1.56, P = 0.002) and for incident CVD during follow-up of 1.56 (95% CI 1.14-2.12, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
HOMA-IR is an independent predictor of CVD in type 2 diabetes. The improvement of insulin resistance might have beneficial effects not only on glucose control but also on CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Bonora
Enzo
E
Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Verona Medical School, Verona, Italy. enbonor@tin.it
Formentini
Gianni
G
Calcaterra
Francesco
F
Lombardi
Simonetta
S
Marini
Franco
F
Zenari
Luciano
L
Saggiani
Francesca
F
Poli
Maurizio
M
Perbellini
Sandro
S
Raffaelli
Andrea
A
Cacciatori
Vittorio
V
Santi
Lorenza
L
Targher
Giovanni
G
Bonadonna
Riccardo
R
Muggeo
Michele
M
D017668:Age of Onset; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol