The prevalence and predictors of prediabetes in the patients on liver transplant wait list

Abstract

Aim: Studies addressing the prevalence of prediabetes among liver transplantation (LT) candidates are limited. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of prediabetes in the patients on LT wait list. Material and Methods: One hundred one adult patients on LT wait list were included. Patients with known diabetes were excluded. Clinical, demographic and laboratory features were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were grouped by fasting blood glucose (FBG), age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and other clinical parameters. Results: Mean age of the patients was 47.98 ± 14.53; and 63.3% were males. Prediabetes and new-onset diabetes mellitus were diagnosed in 34(33.6%) and 6(5.9%) of the patients. Mean age was significantly higher in prediabetes group comparing to normal FBG. 52.47% (n = 53) of the patients was obese, 27.7% (n = 28) overweight, 19.8% in normal weight. The distribution of BMI subgroups was similar in FBG subgroups (p = 0.447). There were significant positive correlations between age, and BMI or FBG (p = 0.021 and p = 0.002, respectively). Being older (≥ 40 years-old) was found to be a predictor for prediabetes (p = 0.010, Odds Ratio = 4.986). BMI was not a predictor for prediabetes (p = 0.151). Conclusions: Our results suggested that the prevalence of prediabetes was increased in patients on LT wait list. Age but not BMI seems to be a significant predictor of prediabetes