Metabolic features of patients with and without coronary heart disease but with a superimposable cluster of cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Many studies have shown a significant association between the magnitude of insulin resistance and the plasma insulin levels in non-diabetic patients. It has also been shown that all major cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the presence of hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance. However, studies have not addressed the possible metabolic differences in insulin action that can occur in patients with and without coronary heart disease (CHD) but with a superimposable cluster of risk factors.