Pre-Diabetes May Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Pre-diabetes is present when a person has a higher than normal blood sugar level. While not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes, it can lead to type 2 diabetes if not treated. A new study suggests that people who are pre-diabetic may have an increased risk of heart disease and premature death.

For their study, the researchers analyzed 129 studies that included 10,069,955 participants. The studies looked at the association between pre-diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. Participants were followed for an average of 10 years.

Participants who were pre-diabetic were found to have a 15% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a 13% increased risk of premature death. They also had an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

Participants who were pre-diabetic and had a history of heart disease were found to have a 37% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a 36% increased risk of premature death.  In addition, impaired glucose tolerance was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and premature death.

The study was conducted by researchers from Guangzhou Medical University. It was published online ahead of print on July 15, 2020 in the journal BMJ.