Family history of diabetes is associated with higher risk for prediabetes: a multicentre analysis from the German Center for Diabetes Research.

Wagner R, Thorand B, Osterhoff MA, Müller G, Böhm A, Meisinger C, Kowall B, Rathmann W, Kronenberg F, Staiger H, Stefan N, Roden M, Schwarz PE, Pfeiffer AF, Häring HU, Fritsche A.

Source

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nephrology, Vascular Disease and Clinical Chemistry, Eberhard Karls University, Otfried-Müller-Str 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.

Abstract

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS:

Prediabetes is a collective term for different subphenotypes (impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] and/or impaired fasting glucose [IFG]) with different pathophysiologies. A positive family history for type 2 diabetes (FHD) is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes. We assumed that it would also associate with prediabetes, but wondered whether all subphenotypes are related to a positive family history.

METHODS:

In a study population of 8,106 non-diabetic individuals of European origin collected from four study centres (normal glucose tolerance, NGT n = 5,482, IFG and/or IGT n = 2,624), we analysed whether having at least one first degree relative with diabetes is associated with prediabetes. The analyses were performed using the same models in each population separately. Afterwards, a meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS:

FHD was significantly associated with the risk for prediabetes (IFG and/or IGT, OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.27, 1.54). This association remained significant in multivariable logistic regression models including sex, age and BMI (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.14, 1.40). When different prediabetic outcomes were considered separately, the association was found for isolated IFG (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.20, 1.57), isolated IGT (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.07, 1.46) as well as for the combination IFG+IGT (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.40, 1.93). After stratification on BMI, association between FHD and prediabetes was seen only in non-obese individuals (BMI < 30 kg/m²).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION:

We found that FHD is an important risk factor for prediabetes, especially for combined IGT and IFG. Its relevance seems to be more evident in the non-obese.