Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase predicts non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease among 28 838 middle-aged men and women

Aims Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) concentration may be involved in atherosclerosis. This study examined if serum GGT predicted coronary heart disease (CHD), especially differentiating non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and fatal CHD event, among the general population or participants with type-2 diabetes. Methods and results A prospective study of 28 838 Finnish men and women aged 25-74 years was performed (1467 incident CHD cases; a median follow-up time of 11.9 years). Serum GGT cutpoints were the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th sex-specific percentiles. After adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors, compared with the lowest GGT category, hazard ratios (HR) were 1.15, 1.25, 1.27, and 1.57 among men and 1.03, 1.22, 1.32, and 1.44 among women in other four GGT categories (P for trend < 0.01, respectively). However, stronger associations were observed among subjects aged < 60 and among alcohol drinkers. The strength of association was similar for non-fatal MI and for fatal CHD. Among subjects with type-2 diabetes, the corresponding adjusted HRs were 1.29, 1.57, 1.88, and 1.78 (P trend=0.03, men and women combined). Conclusion This study suggests an independent mechanism linking serum GGT to CHD among general population. Even though the strength of association appeared to be modest among all subjects, stronger associations were observed among subjects aged < 60 and among alcohol drinkers. Especially, measurement of serum GGT among type-2 diabetics may be helpful to predict the future risk of CHD.