Prediabetes and the association with unrecognized myocardial infarction in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

• Published in: The American heart journal Vol. 170; no. 5; pp. 923 - 928
• Main Authors: Brandon Stacey, Richard, MD, MS, Leaverton, Paul E., PhD, Schocken, Douglas D., MD, Peregoy, Jennifer A., MPH, Bertoni, Alain G., MD, MPH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atherosclerosis - complications; Atherosclerosis - ethnology; Cardiovascular; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electrocardiography; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - diagnosis; Myocardial Infarction - ethnology; Myocardial Infarction - etiology; Prediabetic State - complications; Prediabetic State - ethnology; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; United States - epidemiology; United States
• ISSN: 0002-8703; 1097-6744
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2015.08.003

Background With one-quarter of initial myocardial infarctions (MI) being unrecognized MI (UMI), recognition is critical to minimize further cardiovascular risk. Diabetes mellitus is an established risk factor for UMI. If impaired fasting glucose (IFG) also increased the risk for UMI, it would represent a significant public health challenge due to the rapid worldwide increase in IFG prevalence. We compared participants with IFG to those with normal fasting glucose (NFG) to determine if IFG was associated with UMIs. Methods We performed cross-sectional analyses from the MESA, a population-based cohort study. There were 6,814 participants recruited during July 2000 to September 2002 from the general community at 6 field sites. After excluding those with diabetes mellitus or missing variables, 5,885 participants were included. At baseline, there were 4,955 participants with NFG and 930 participants with IFG. The main outcome was an UMI defined by the presence of pathological Q waves or minor Q waves with ST-T abnormalities on initial 12-lead electrocardiogram. Logistic regression was used to generate crude ORs and adjust for covariates. Results There was a higher prevalence of UMI in those with IFG compared with those with NFG [3.5% (n = 72) vs 1.4% (n = 30)]. After adjustment for multiple risk factors, there was a higher odds of an UMI among those with IFG compared with those with NFG [OR: 1.60 (95% CI: 1.0-2.5); P = .048]. Conclusions Impaired fasting glucose is associated with unrecognized myocardial infarctions in a multi-ethnic population free of baseline cardiovascular disease.