Prediabetes and heart attack risk- Linked?

While diabetes is known to cause serious health conditions such as heart attacks, stroke and kidney problems, the link between prediabetes and heart problems has not been well established,. According to a new study presented at the ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, prediabetes appears to be a strong independent risk factor for heart attacks.

The study serves as a wake-up to everyone to shift the focus to managing prediabetes, not just diabetes. Based on the findings, the authors encourage everyone to make lifestyle changes, follow a healthy diet and regularly exercise for at least 150 minutes each week in patients with prediabetes to decrease the risk of heart attacks.

The researchers analyzed data from 1.79 million hospitalizations of patients who had a heart attack. Of these patients, 1% had prediabetes. After adjusting for risk factors for heart disease, it was found that prediabetes was associated with 25% increased odds of a heart attack, compared with patients without prediabetes. Those with prediabetes also were at 45% increased odds for having percutaneous intervention and almost double the risk of having heart bypass surgery.

The researchers hence concluded that their findings reinforce the importance of early recognition by screening and early intervention of prediabetes by lifestyle changes or medications to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events.