Association between the Hypertriglyceridemic Waist Phenotype and Prediabetes in Chinese Adults Aged 40 Years and Older

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype and prediabetes in Chinese adults aged 40 years and older. METHODS: 12757 adults (4101 men and 8656 women) without diabetes or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, free of using lipid-modified agents, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The HTGW phenotype was defined as elevated serum triglyceride concentrations and enlarged waist circumference. A two-hour post 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in all participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship of the HTGW phenotype with prediabetes. RESULTS: Individuals with the HTGW phenotype had a higher adjusted odds ratio (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.48–1.95) of prediabetes than those without the phenotype. There existed a strong relationship of the HTGW phenotype with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.57–2.13), but not with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.65–1.17). Only women with the HTGW phenotype are significantly associated with the combined IFG and IGT (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.28–2.62). CONCLUSIONS: The HTGW phenotype was a useful risk indicator and a practical screening tool to benefit in the early diagnosis and intervention for prediabetes, particularly for IGT and the combined IFG and IGT.