Insulin resistance and carotid atherosclerosis in 221 patients with potential hyperglycemia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with potential hyperglycemia.


METHODS
A total of 221 patients were recruited among those with potential hyperglycemia. All participants underwent physical examination, medical history interview, and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Venous blood was sampled for measurement of insulin and cholesterol levels. The intima-media thickness (IMT) in bilateral common carotid arteries was observed by B-mode ultrasound. Insulin resistance index was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Subjects were stratified in quintiles according to HOMA-IR values. Risk factors and atherosclerotic parameters were analyzed.


RESULTS
With HOMA-IR value increase, incidence of impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease increased, the levels of triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting plasma glucose, 2 hour plasma glucose, and fasting insulin increased as well, while the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased. Meanwhile, all atherosclerotic parameters increased. Multivariate regression analysis showed that TG, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C levels, and ln(HOMA-IR) were related to IMT, hence were risk factors for IMT increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Insulin resistance is implicated in atherogenesis.
Yang
Bo
B
Department of Cardiology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing. dryangb@yahoo.com.cn
Li
Tian-de
TD
Wang
Jin-song
JS
Zhi
Guang
G
Jin
Wen-sheng
WS
Xu
Yong
Y
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids