Prevalence and predictors of prediabetes and its coexistence with high blood pressure in first‑degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes: A 9‑year cohort study

Prediabetes is strongly associated with high blood pressure; however, a little is known about prediabetes and high blood pressure comorbidity in the high‑risk individuals. This is the first study in the world to assess the long‑term effects of risk factors associated with high blood pressure and prediabetes comorbidity in the first‑degree relatives (FDRs) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

The longitudinal data obtained from 1388 nondiabetic FDRs of T2DM patients with at least two visits between 2003 and 2011. We used univariate and bivariate mixed‑effects logistic regressions with a Bayesian approach to identify longitudinal predictors of high blood pressure and prediabetes separately and simultaneously.

The baseline prevalence of high blood pressure, prediabetes, and the coexistence of both was 27.4%, 19.1%, and 29.8%, respectively. The risks of high blood pressure and prediabetes were increased by one‑unit raise in the age (odds ratio [OR] of high blood pressure: 1.419 (95% credible intervals [CI], 1.077–1.877), prediabetes: 1.055 (95% CI: 1.040–1.068)) and one‑unit raise in remnant‑cholesterol (OR of high blood pressure: 1.093 (95%CI, 1.067–1.121), and prediabetes: 1.086 (95% CI, 1.043–1.119)). Obese participants were more likely to have high blood pressure (OR: 2.443 [95% CI, 1.978–3.031]) and prediabetes (OR: 1.399 [95% CI, 1.129–1.730]) than other participants.

We have introduced remnant‑cholesterol, along with obesity and age, as a significant predictor of prediabetes, high blood pressure, and the coexistence of both in the FDRs of diabetic patients. Obesity index and remnant‑cholesterol showed the stronger effects on high blood pressure and prediabetes comorbidity than on each condition separately