The study explores the correlation between blood glucose level and early signs of a cardiac disease called aortic valve calcification (AVC) in middle-aged people. AVC is a disease in which calcium deposits in the aortic valve harden the valve, and it may eventually lead to aortic stenosis (AS). Without treatment, the disease is hazardous, as it affects the blood flow from the heart.
Researchers compared data on over 29,000 Swedish adults aged 50 to 64 years, utilizing advanced cardiac imaging methods (CT scans) to detect AVC cases. Participants were categorized into four groups based on glycemic status: normal, prediabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes, and established diabetes. The study found a linear relationship between high blood sugar and risk of AVC. Patients in the prediabetes group had a 16% higher chance of AVC compared to those with normal blood sugar. In addition, those with new diagnosis of diabetes had a 34% higher risk, and those with established diabetes had a 61% higher risk. AVC incidence was higher in men than in women, 17% of diabetic men developing AVC, versus 9% of diabetic women.
Interestingly, the research found that AVC was present even in prediabetes, implying that even subtle glucose derangement can lead to early cardiac complications. Long-term glucose levels, as indicated by HbA1c, were more significantly associated with AVC compared with daily fasting blood glucose, suggesting that chronic exposure to high glucose is more detrimental than acute fluctuation. Obesity was also the prime reason for the formation of AVC. After the adjustment for the body mass index (BMI), the prediabetes-AVC association became less strong, showing that being overweight might be the most important factor in calcification. This fact shows the role of weight regulation in avoiding heart disease.
As there is no medical treatment of AVC, early detection and treatment of AVC is of utmost importance. Keeping blood sugar tightly controlled and maintaining a normal weight can prevent AVC from further progression and prevent the risk of developing severe heart disease in the future.
Source: cardiab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12933-025-02634-7
