Study Links Rising Prediabetes in Youth to Increased Heart Risks and Early Cardiovascular Damage
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A groundbreaking study from the University of Bristol's Children of the 90s cohort has revealed alarming trends in the health of adolescents transitioning to young adulthood. The study tracked 1,595 participants from age 17 to 24, assessing the prevalence of prediabetes and its effects on heart health. Using two different fasting blood glucose cutpoints (≥5.6 mmol/L and ≥6.1 mmol/L), researchers found a significant increase in prediabetes, with 6.2% of 17-year-olds exhibiting fasting blood sugar ≥5.6 mmol/L, rising to 26.9% by age 24.
The study also noted a threefold increase in the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) from 2.4% at age 17 to 7.1% at 24. "Even healthy-looking adolescents may be on a path toward cardiovascular diseases due to high blood glucose and insulin resistance," said Andrew Agbaje, associate professor at the University of Eastern Finland.
The findings highlight a troubling link between persistently high blood glucose and heart dysfunction, particularly in females, where the damage to heart function occurred five times faster than in males. Insulin resistance was also associated with a 10% increased risk of premature heart damage. The study underscores the importance of early intervention and lifestyle changes, especially as adolescents gain independence from family influences.
This research, the largest of its kind, stresses the critical need for awareness and prevention of cardiometabolic diseases in youth, particularly in light of the rising prevalence of prediabetes.
Reference: Agbaje, A. O., et al. (2025) Persistent Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance with the Risk of Worsening Cardiac Damage in Adolescents: A 7-Year Longitudinal Study of the ALSPAC Birth Cohort. Diabetes Care. doi.org/10.2337/dc24-2459.
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