Relationship between the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), vitamin D levels, and insulin resistance in obese subjects

Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in health care workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Globally, up to 76.6% of the population may be affected by vitamin D (VD) deficiency, which has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. This underscores the importance of further research into VD supplementation, particularly for health care workers, who are at higher risk due to indoor work environments and dietary challenges associated with shift schedules.

Objective

This study aimed to identify factors associated with VD deficiency in Mexican health care workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

Materials and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study from June 2020 to January 2021 among frontline health care workers treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Blood samples were collected to measure 25-hydroxy VD levels via radioimmunoassay. We also assessed previous COVID-19 infection and comorbidities that could influence VD levels.

Results

The study included 468 health care workers. The median serum VD concentration was 16.6 ng/mL. VD deficiency was found in 69.4% (n = 325) of participants, while only 5.1% (n = 24) had normal levels. Those with type 2 diabetes (13.3 ng/mL vs. 17.1 ng/mL) or obesity (15.7 ng/mL vs. 17.1 ng/mL) had significantly lower VD levels than their counterparts (p < 0.001 and p = 0.049, respectively). No significant differences were found among participants with high blood pressure. Multivariate analysis revealed that type 2 diabetes was independently associated with VD deficiency.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of VD deficiency among health care workers, which is potentially linked to both personal health factors and occupational conditions.

Association between the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score and cancer in middle-aged and older adults: Involvement of inflammation

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is associated with increased risk of common cancers. However, evidence of cancer risk in individuals with different diabetes risk is still scarce, and the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) and risks of cancer incidence and mortality in a prospective study, and to explore whether low-grade inflammation partially mediated the association.

METHODS

A total of 330,384 participants aged 37 to 73 at baseline from the UK Biobank database was included in this study. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the relationship of the FINDRISC and low-grade inflammation with risks of cancer incidence and mortality. Then, we estimated the contribution of higher FINDRISC to risks of overall and site-specific cancers. In addition, the role of low-grade inflammation in the association between FINDRISC and cancer risks was investigated through mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The increased FINDRISC was dose-dependently associated with higher incidence and mortality risks of overall cancer and an overwhelming majority of site-specific cancers. The higher FINDRISC was a strong contributor to incidence of eighteen site-specific cancers and mortality of fourteen site-specific cancers, with a population-attributable risk of 8.1 %-39.1 %, 14.2 %-39.7 %, respectively. Additionally, low-grade inflammation mainly mediated the association between the FINDRISC and risks of incidence and mortality of overall cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted the higher FINDRISC as critical risk factors of cancer incidence and mortality, partially mediated by low-grade inflammation. Individuals with increased risk of diabetes are also needed to be concerned about cancer prevention.

FINDRISC Modified for Latin America as a Screening Tool for Persons with Impaired Glucose Metabolism in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela

OBJECTIVE

The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) includes anthropometric, metabolic, and lifestyle factors that predict type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the FINDRISC modified for Latin America (LA-FINDRISC) as a screening tool for persons with impaired glucose metabolism in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.

METHODS

Subjects aged between 18 and 70 years of both sexes without known diabetes were invited to participate. After informed consent, they were screened with the LA-FINDRISC questionnaire and then given an oral glucose tolerance test, using the American Diabetes Association criteria for diagnosis. To obtain the cutoff point of LA-FINDRISC for predicting impaired glucose regulation, a receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed.

RESULTS

A total of 200 subjects were evaluated, 64.5% female, with a mean age of 35.20 ± 13.84 years. Of these, 158 (79%) did not present with carbohydrate metabolism disorder, while 42 (21%) did. Age (p = 0.0001), body mass index (p = 0.011), and waist circumference (p = 0.031) were significantly higher in subjects with impaired glucose regulation when compared to those without it. There were a significantly greater number of sedentary (p = 0.039) and hypertensive subjects (p = 0.0001), as well as those with a history of glucose >100 mg/dL (p = 0.0001), in the impaired glucose metabolism group. A cutoff LA-FINDRISC of 14 points predicted a high risk of impaired glucose regulation with a sensitivity of 45.2% and a specificity of 89.9%.

CONCLUSION

A LA-FINDRISC >14 points had low sensitivity but high specificity for predicting carbohydrate metabolism disorders in this group of patients from Ciudad Bolívar.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and type 2 diabetes risk according to the FINDRISC modified for Latin America

BACKGROUND

The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) is a tool to predict 10-year risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and visceral adiposity is associated with higher cardio-metabolic risk. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness with T2DM risk according to the FINDRISC tool.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, and included 55 subjects of whom 37 (67.3%) were women and 18 (32.7%) men with ages between 18 and 75 years. A record was made of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, baseline insulin, plasma lipids, Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and EAT thickness. The FINDRISC tool, with WC cut-off points modified for Latin America (LA-FINDRISC) was used.

RESULTS

BMI, WC, plasma insulin concentration, HOMA-IR index, and EAT thickness were higher (P<0.0001) in the high-risk group compared to subjects in the low-moderate risk group according to the LA-FINDRISC. LA-FINDRISC was positively correlated with BMI (r=0.513; P=0.0001), WC (r=0.524; P=0.0001), fasting blood glucose (r=0.396; P=0.003); baseline plasma insulin (r=0.483; P=0.0001); HOMA-IR index (r=0.545; P=.0.0001); and EAT thickness (r=0.702; P=0.0001). The multivariate regression analysis showed that fasting blood glucose (P=0.023) and EAT thickness (P=0.007) remained independently associated with high T2DM risk.

CONCLUSIONS

LA-FINDRISC was associated with EAT thickness and insulin resistance markers. Both were independently and directly associated with high risk for diabetes in the LA-FINDRISC category.

Association between vitamin D status and metabolic syndrome risk factors

BACKGROUND

The concern with the incidence of chronic-degenerative diseases is increasing worldwide, and many studies have shown that insufficiency of vitamin D (VD) can be linked to several metabolic disorders.

AIMS

Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the metabolic syndrome risk factors, atherogenic indices and VD in a group of patients attended at a Cardiology Center.

METHODS

For this study, we invited 200 patients of both sexes attended in a Cardiology Center (Medical School of Marilia - São Paulo - Brazil). Most were female (n = 111) and aged between 41 and 70 years (from march to august, 2017).

RESULTS

Our results showed that only 20.0% of the patients presented normal levels of VD. Patients with altered values for this vitamin presented significantly higher values for glycemia, HbA1c, Total cholesterol, LDL-c, triglycerides, Castelli Index I, Castelli Index II, Body Mass Index, waist circumference, non-HDL-c and the estimative of the size of the LDL-c particle. Vitamin D correlated negatively with glycemia, HbA1C, triglycerides, atherogenic indices, Body Mass Index, and blood pressure. Multiple Regression Model showed that for an individual to maintain metabolic parameters, at least at borderline values, the levels of VD should be 37.64 that is not in accordance with the reference values.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed a remarkable prevalence of low concentrations of Vitamin D in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Diabetic by HbA1c, Normal by OGTT: A Frequent Finding in the Mexico City Diabetes Study

CONTEXT

The agreement between glucose-based and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)-based American Diabetes Association criteria in the diagnosis of normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes, or diabetes is under scrutiny. A need to explore the issue among different populations exists.

OBJECTIVE

Examine the results obtained with both methods in the diagnosis of the glycemic status.

DESIGN

The Mexico City Diabetes Study is a population-based, prospective investigation.

SETTING

Low-income elder urban community.

PARTICIPANTS

All 854 participants without known diabetes had both oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and HbA1c measurements on the same day of the 2008 phase.

INTERVENTIONS

Standardized protocol: questionnaires, anthropometry, and biomarkers.

MAIN OUTCOME

Diagnostic classification of American Diabetes Association criteria.

RESULTS

We found by OGTT normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in 512 (59.9%) participants, prediabetes [impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)] in 261 (30.5%), and diabetes in 81 (9.4%). In total, 232 in the NGT group (45.3%) and 158 in the prediabetes group (60.5%) had HbA1c ≥6.5%. Body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure were significantly different among OGTT-defined diabetic status groups but not in the HbA1c-diagnosed group. We identified 404 participants in the NGT group with confirmed NGT throughout all phases of the Mexico City Diabetes Study. Of these, 184 (45.5%) had HbA1c ≥6.5%. In a vital/diabetes status follow-up performed subsequently, we found that, of these, 133 remained nondiabetic, 3 had prediabetes, 7 had diabetes, and 13 had died without diabetes; we were unable to ascertain the glycemic status in 5 and vital status in 23.

CONCLUSIONS

Normal OGTT coexisting with elevated HbA1c is a common finding in this cohort. It is possible that this finding is not mediated by hyperglycemia. This might occur in similar populations.