title: Inverse association between fasting plasma glucose and risk of ventricular arrhythmias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In nondiabetic individuals, low values of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Identification of the potential mechanisms behind this association could help to elucidate the relationship between glycaemia and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to determine the association between FPG and ventricular arrhythmias.
  
  
  METHODS
  FPG and other cardiometabolic risk factors were measured in a population-based cohort of 2,482 men without a known history of type 2 diabetes mellitus at baseline. Associations between FPG levels and incident cases of ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation events ascertained using the National Hospital Discharge Register) were estimated using Cox regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a median follow-up of 23.3 (interquartile range 18.5-25.3) years, 74 (2.9%) incident events were recorded. In a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, systolic BP, smoking status, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, and C-reactive protein, the HR for ventricular arrhythmia per 1 mmol/l higher baseline FPG was 0.58 (95% CI 0.34, 0.98); this estimate did not materially change after further adjustment for BMI, alcohol consumption, triacylglycerols and history of ischaemic heart disease (0.50 [95% CI 0.28, 0.89]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this nondiabetic male population, FPG was inversely associated with incident risk of ventricular arrhythmias. While our results could help clarify the relationship between low glucose levels and cardiovascular risk, further studies are required to confirm these findings in other populations.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, LE5 4PW, UK, frazac@fastwebnet.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaccardi
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurl
authors.forename: Kamlesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khunti
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Jari A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose