Impaired glucose tolerance increases stroke risk in nondiabetic patients with transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Impaired glucose tolerance, an intermediate metabolic state between normal glucose and diabetes characterized by nonfasting glucose levels between 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L, is associated with an increased stroke risk in patients with coronary heart disease. Whether impaired glucose tolerance increases the risk of stroke in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor ischemic stroke is unknown.


METHODS
In total, 3127 patients with a TIA or minor ischemic stroke participated in the Dutch TIA Trial, testing 2 different doses of aspirin and atenolol versus placebo. We estimated the risk of stroke and the risk of myocardial infarction or cardiac death in relation to baseline nonfasting glucose levels (mean 6.0, SD 2.2 mmol/L) with Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.


RESULTS
During 2.6 years follow-up, 272 patients (9%) experienced a stroke and 200 (6%) a myocardial infarction or cardiac death. We found a J-shaped relationship between baseline nonfasting glucose levels and stroke risk. Stroke risk was nearly doubled in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (glucose 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L) compared with those with normal glucose levels (hazard ratio [HR] 1.8, 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.0) and nearly tripled in diabetic patients (glucose > or =11.1 mmol/L; HR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.9 to 4.1). Patients with low glucose levels (<4.6 mmol/L) had a 50% increased stroke risk (HR 1.5, 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.2) compared with those with normal glucose levels. There was no association between glucose levels and risk of myocardial infarction or cardiac death.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired glucose tolerance is an independent risk factor for future stroke in nondiabetic patients with TIA or minor ischemic stroke.
Vermeer
Sarah E
SE
Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. s.vermeer@erasmusmc.nl
Sandee
Willemijn
W
Algra
Ale
A
Koudstaal
Peter J
PJ
Kappelle
L Jaap
LJ
Dippel
Diederik W J
DW
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose