Deep analyses of the associations of a series of biomarkers with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes risk in nondiabetic middle-aged and elderly individuals: results from a Chinese community-based study

Abstract

Shihui Fu,1,2,* Ping Ping,3,* Leiming Luo,1 Ping Ye1 1Department of Geriatric Cardiology, 2Department of Cardiology and Hainan Branch, 3Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: The current study was designed to perform deep analyses of the associations of biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and homocysteine (Hcy), with insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and diabetes risk and evaluate the abilities of biomarkers to identify IR, MetS, and diabetes risk in Chinese community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly residents.Participants and methods: A total of 396 participants older than 45 years underwent physical examinations and laboratory analyses following standardized protocol.Results: Serum hs-CRP concentrations were able to identify MetS, Chinese diabetes risk score (CDRS) ≥4, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) <0.9/1.0 mmol/L, and HDL-c <1.0/1.3 mmol/L (P<0.05 for all). Serum NT-proBNP concentrations were able to identify homeostasis model assessment of IR >1.5, CDRS ≥4, overweight, and blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mmHg (P<0.05 for all). Serum Hcy concentrations were able to identify CDRS ≥4, general obesity, overweight, and BP ≥140/90 mmHg (P<0.05 for all). Serum hs-CRP concentrations were independently associated with MetS as well as HDL-c <1.0/1.3 mmol/L and HDL-c <0.9/1.0 mmol/L (P<0.05 for all). Serum NT-proBNP concentrations were independently associated with BP ≥140/90 mmHg (P<0.05). Serum Hcy concentrations were independently associated with CDRS ≥4 (P<0.05).Conclusion: Serum HDL-c levels were the major determinant of the associations between serum hs-CRP levels and MetS and the key link between inflammation and MetS. There was no other association of these biomarkers with IR, MetS, and diabetes risk after full adjustment. Keywords: biomarkers, diabetes risk, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, middle-aged and elderly

Keywords

• biomarkers
• diabetes risk
• insulin resistance
• metabolic syndrome
• middle-aged and elderlyConclusions: Serum HDL-c levels were the major determinant of the associations between serum hs-CRP levels and MetS
• and the key link between inflammation and MetS. There was no other association of these biomarkers with IR
• MetS and diabetes risk after full adjustment.