Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDespite extensive research on the epidemiological risk factors linking diabetes and carotid plaques, evidence regarding sex-specific differences remains scarce. This study aims to investigate the gender differences in the association between fasting blood glucose levels and the risk of car...

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Main Authors: Mengjie Xu, Kai Xu, Weiguo Lin, Ruixue Sun, Shaorong Yan, Xiaoshu Chen, Yuzhan Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1478640/full
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author Mengjie Xu
Kai Xu
Weiguo Lin
Ruixue Sun
Shaorong Yan
Xiaoshu Chen
Yuzhan Lin
author_facet Mengjie Xu
Kai Xu
Weiguo Lin
Ruixue Sun
Shaorong Yan
Xiaoshu Chen
Yuzhan Lin
author_sort Mengjie Xu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDespite extensive research on the epidemiological risk factors linking diabetes and carotid plaques, evidence regarding sex-specific differences remains scarce. This study aims to investigate the gender differences in the association between fasting blood glucose levels and the risk of carotid plaques among cardiovascular high-risk populations.MethodsThis study used cross-sectional data from a large prospective cohort study. From 2019 to 2020, fasting blood glucose and carotid ultrasound examinations were conducted on high-risk cardiovascular populations in the pilot area. The independent variable was fasting blood glucose, and the dependent variable was the presence or absence of carotid plaques. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to calculate risk ratios. Generalized additive models combined with curve fitting were employed to assess the nonlinear relationship between fasting blood glucose levels and carotid plaques in the overall population and different genders.ResultsThis study included 1,063 cardiovascular high-risk patients. In the fully adjusted model, fasting blood glucose levels in men were positively associated with carotid plaques (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45, p = 0.0312). In women, fasting blood glucose levels were also positively associated with the risk of carotid plaque formation (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.95-1.39). The generalized additive model results showed a linear relationship between fasting blood glucose levels and carotid plaques in the overall population. Stratified results indicated a linear relationship in men, while a nonlinear relationship was observed in women.ConclusionThere is an association between fasting blood glucose levels and carotid plaque, with an increased risk of carotid plaque as fasting blood glucose rises. Moreover, this relationship differs between sexes.
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spelling doaj-art-e08e312d0a5f4ebf99cc0ebf0dec25332025-08-20T02:43:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-02-011610.3389/fendo.2025.14786401478640Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional studyMengjie Xu0Kai Xu1Weiguo Lin2Ruixue Sun3Shaorong Yan4Xiaoshu Chen5Yuzhan Lin6Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou People’s Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University, The Wenzhou Third Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou People’s Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University, The Wenzhou Third Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, ChinaDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ruian, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ruian, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ruian, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Wenzhou People’s Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University, The Wenzhou Third Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ruian, ChinaBackgroundDespite extensive research on the epidemiological risk factors linking diabetes and carotid plaques, evidence regarding sex-specific differences remains scarce. This study aims to investigate the gender differences in the association between fasting blood glucose levels and the risk of carotid plaques among cardiovascular high-risk populations.MethodsThis study used cross-sectional data from a large prospective cohort study. From 2019 to 2020, fasting blood glucose and carotid ultrasound examinations were conducted on high-risk cardiovascular populations in the pilot area. The independent variable was fasting blood glucose, and the dependent variable was the presence or absence of carotid plaques. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to calculate risk ratios. Generalized additive models combined with curve fitting were employed to assess the nonlinear relationship between fasting blood glucose levels and carotid plaques in the overall population and different genders.ResultsThis study included 1,063 cardiovascular high-risk patients. In the fully adjusted model, fasting blood glucose levels in men were positively associated with carotid plaques (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45, p = 0.0312). In women, fasting blood glucose levels were also positively associated with the risk of carotid plaque formation (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.95-1.39). The generalized additive model results showed a linear relationship between fasting blood glucose levels and carotid plaques in the overall population. Stratified results indicated a linear relationship in men, while a nonlinear relationship was observed in women.ConclusionThere is an association between fasting blood glucose levels and carotid plaque, with an increased risk of carotid plaque as fasting blood glucose rises. Moreover, this relationship differs between sexes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1478640/fullfasting plasma glucosecarotid plaquesex differencescross sectional studylogistic regression
spellingShingle Mengjie Xu
Kai Xu
Weiguo Lin
Ruixue Sun
Shaorong Yan
Xiaoshu Chen
Yuzhan Lin
Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Endocrinology
fasting plasma glucose
carotid plaque
sex differences
cross sectional study
logistic regression
title Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study
title_full Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study
title_short Sex-specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high-risk population: a cross-sectional study
title_sort sex specific differences in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and carotid plaque in a cardiovascular high risk population a cross sectional study
topic fasting plasma glucose
carotid plaque
sex differences
cross sectional study
logistic regression
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1478640/full
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