Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Newly Diagnosed Prediabetes: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Prediabetes is a significant metabolic disorder associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Identifying cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with prediabetes is crucial for early intervention and prevention strategies. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and distribution of cardiovascular risk factors among newly diagnosed prediabetes patients and their associations with different prediabetes subtypes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 newly diagnosed prediabetes patients at a tertiary care center in Bangladesh. Prediabetes was classified into four subgroups: isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), both IFG and IGT, and isolated HbA1c-defined prediabetes, based on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2017 criteria. Cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and microalbuminuria, were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to compare risk factor prevalence among the subgroups. Dyslipidemia (98%), central obesity (90%), and metabolic syndrome (69%) were the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. Family history of diabetes (51%) and cardiovascular disease (33%) were also common. The IFG group exhibited the highest prevalence of dyslipidemia (100%), metabolic syndrome (85.7%), and hypertension (42.9%), though differences across subgroups were not statistically significant. A significant correlation was found between spot urinary albumin-creatinine ratio and 2-hour plasma glucose levels (p = 0.002). Cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent in prediabetes, emphasizing the need for early screening and targeted interventions to prevent disease progression and reduce future CVD burden