Glucose abnormalities detected by oral glucose tolerance test in patients with acute myocardial infarction: clinical significance, epidemiology, natural course and therapeutic concerns

Abstract

AB ST R ACTTwo-hour post load glycemia (2h-PG) obtained during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes more significantly than fasting glycemia, and the association of 2h-PG with cardiovascular morbidity is graded and independent. An abnormal value of 2h-PG is defined as glycemia ≥ 7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl) in most studies. Patients with acute myocardial infarction with abnormal 2h-PG compared to patients with normal 2h-PG have a significantly higher long-term mortality and more concomitant diseases, however, it has not been shown that those subjects have a higher risk of myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization or stroke. Studies have shown that in some patients the glucometabolic status changes after the acute phase of the disease, and that those changes have a prognostic importance. In this review article the authors presented the significance, epidemiology, natural course of glucometabolic disturbances and the therapeutic concerns of hypoglycemic treatment. K E Y W O R D Sacute myocardial infarction, oral glucose tolerance test, glucometabolic disturbances