Could pre-diabetes be considered a clinical condition? opinions from an endocrinologist and a cardiologist

• Published in: Diabetology and metabolic syndrome Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 2
• Main Authors: Magalhães, Maria Eliane C, Cavalcanti, Breno A, Cavalcanti, Saulo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 15.01.2010; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Coronary heart disease; Diagnosis; Health aspects; Methods; Prediabetic state; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Risk factors; Brazil
• ISSN: 1758-5996; 1758-5996
• DOI: 10.1186/1758-5996-2-2

The prevalence of pre-diabetes is increasing worldwide and may start 7 to 10 years before the clinical diagnosis of diabetes. In this stage the presence and accumulation of risk factors is common and already implies an increase in cardiovascular risk. Likewise, the onset of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), mainly coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease can also take place, all of which account for high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Considering pre-diabetes as a clinical entity, non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments are indicated with drugs which have shown clinical benefits related to reduction in morbidity and mortality. However, there is still need for new long-term studies to assess the real benefits of several new therapeutical approaches, as well as its cost-effectiveness.