Are the determinants of the progression to type 2 diabetes and regression to normoglycemia in the populations with pre-diabetes the same?

Background: We aimed to determine the predictors of regression to normoglycemia and progression to diabetes among subjects with pre-diabetes in a single model concurrently.

Methods: The present study included 1329 participants aged 20 to 70 years with prediabetes from the population-based cohort of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, with a 10-year follow-up. Glycemic status at follow-up was categorized as regression to normoglycemia: fasting plasma glucose [FPG] of <5.55 and 2h-plasma glucose [PG] of <7.77 mmol/L, and not taking antidiabetic medications. Glycemic status at follow-up was categorized as progression to diabetes: FPG ≥7 or 2h-PG of ≥11.1 mmol/L, or taking antidiabetic medications. Glycemic status determined whether the patients remained in prediabetes category (isolated impaired fasting glycaemia [iIFG] [(5.55≤FPG<7 and 2h-PG<7.77 mmol/L); isolated impared glucose tolarence [iIGT] (7.77 ≤ 2h-PG<11.1 and FGP<5.55 mmol/L)]. With prediabetes as a reference, multinomial logistic regression was utilized to identify the determinants of glycemic changes.

Results: Approximately 40% of participants returned to normoglycemia (n = 578), and similar percentage of participants progressed to diabetes (n = 518). Based on the multivariable multinomial model, regression to normoglycemia was associated with age (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99), female sex (RRR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.18-2.50), high education level of ≥12 years (RRR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.19-3.70), and combined IFG/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) versus IFG (RRR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.70). The risk of progression to diabetes increased with body mass index (RRR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.15), waist circumference (RRR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99), positive familial history of diabetes (RRR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.07-2.45), and combined IFG/IGT versus IFG (RRR = 2.54; 95% CI, 1.71-3.77).

Conclusion: A small percentage of patients with prediabetes remain in this condition, but the majority go on to develop diabetes or regress to normoglycemia. Both directions had distinct predictors.