Association between fasting glucose levels and various coagulation and platelet parameters

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus and disturbances in glucose metabolism are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis through endothelial dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, platelet hyperactivity, and alterations in coagulation factors. Aim: To investigate the association between fasting glucose levels and selected coagulation and platelet parameters. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 172 participants. According to the exclusion criteria, individuals with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus, anticoagulant use, or liver disease were excluded. Participants were categorized into two groups according to fasting glucose levels: <5.6 mmol/L and ≥5.6 mmol/L. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen, platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) were compared between the two groups. Between-group differences were assessed using the Mann–Whitney U test, and associations between continuous variables were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Multivariable linear regression analysis was adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Results: Of the 172 participants, 145 (84.3%) had fasting glucose levels <5.6 mmol/L and 27 (15.7%) had fasting glucose levels ≥5.6 mmol/L. The median aPTT was significantly shorter in participants with elevated fasting glucose than in those with fasting glucose <5.6 mmol/L (25.4 [24.2–26.8] vs. 26.3 [24.9–27.95] seconds; p=0.029). No statistically significant between-group differences were observed in PT, INR, TT, fibrinogen, platelet count, MPV, PDW, or PCT. A weak inverse correlation was observed between fasting glucose and aPTT (ρ=−0.141). In multivariable regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and BMI, each 1 mmol/L increase in fasting glucose was associated with a 0.242-second decrease in aPTT (B=−0.242; 95% CI, −0.465 to −0.020; p=0.033). Conclusions: 1. The median aPTT was significantly shorter in participants with elevated fasting glucose than in those without elevated fasting glucose. 2. Each 1 mmol/L increase in fasting glucose was associated with a 0.242-second decrease in aPTT.