Determinants of developing diabetes mellitus and vascular complications in patients with impaired fasting glucose

Aims: To detect the risk factors of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular complications in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty three subjects with proved IFG in Zanjan Healthy Heart Study (2002-2003) were recalled and participated in this study (2009-2010). Demographic and laboratoryinformation of the participants were collected.Ischemic heart disease (IHD) was assessed by the exercise tolerance test (ETT). All the subjects with abnormal ETT or documented past history of IHD confirmed by angiographic evaluation. Ophthalmic complications including cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy were estimated by an ophthalmologist. Results: Incidence of DM was 19.5%. All the diabetic and pre-diabetic patients had at least one of the other components of metabolic syndrome. Obesity (P: 0.04, OR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1.2-9) and low physical activity (P < 0.001, OR: 9.6, 95%CI: 3.4-32) were the only independent prognostic risk factors for progression to DM in patients with IFG. Total incidence of IHD was 14.6% and had a strong correlation with sex (P: 0.01, OR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1.2-1.5), age (P < 0.001, OR: 23, 95%CI: 2.1-67) and cigarette smoking (P < 0.001, OR: 36.5, 95%CI: 3.9-337). Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy was shown in 2 (1.6%) subjects who were all women. Conclusion: Obesity and low physical activity are the main factors of developing DM and its macrovascular complications in subjects with IFG.