title: Impaired fasting glucose in hypertensive patients: prevalence and cross-sectional analysis of associations with cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is frequently present in hypertensive patients and might be induced or aggravated by antihypertensive treatment. However, it is unclear whether IFG is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study in 1,810 hypertensive patients and recorded the presence of IFG, coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischemic stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFG was present in 567 patients (31.3%). The prevalence of CHD or ischemic stroke did not differ between patients with IFG and in patients with serum glucose levels <100 mg/dL. Among patients with IFG, 267 (47.0%) were on β-blockers, diuretics, or both β-blockers and diuretics. The prevalence of CHD was numerically but not significantly higher in patients with IFG treated with β-blockers or both β-blockers and diuretics than in patients with IFG treated with diuretics or not treated with either β-blockers or diuretics and patients with serum glucose levels <100 mg/dL (11.1%, 13.6%, 1.4%, 3.7%, and 5.9%, respectively; P=not significant). The prevalence of ischemic stroke did not differ among these groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFG does not appear to be associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients, regardless if it is associated with the antihypertensive treatment or not.
authors.affiliation: First Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. ktziomalos@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spanou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baltatzi
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Efthymiou
authors.forename: Konstantia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Psianou
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papastergiou
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iliadis
authors.forename: Triandafillos P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Didangelos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savopoulos
authors.forename: Apostolos I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Hatzitolios
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004232:Diuretics