Objective To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with potential hyperglycemia. Methods A total of 221 patients were recruited among those with potential hyperglycemia. All participants underwent physical examination

medical history interview

and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Venous blood was sampled for measurement of insulin and cholesterol levels. The intima-media thickness （IMT） in bilateral common carotid arteries was observed by B-mode ultrasound. Insulin resistance index was calculated by homeostasis model assessment （HOMA-IR）. Subjects were stratified in quintiles according to HOMA-IR values. Risk factors and atherosclerotic parameters were analyzed. Results With HOMA-IR value increase

incidence of impaired glucose tolerance

diabetes mellitus

hypertension

and coronary artery disease increased

the levels of triglyceride （TG）

low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）

fasting plasma glucose

2 hour plasma glucose

and fasting insulin increased as well

while the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） decreased. Meanwhile

all atherosclerotic parameters increased. Multivariate regression analysis showed that TG

total cholesterol

HDL-C

LDL-C levels

and ln（HOMA-IR） were related to IMT

hence were risk factors for IMT increase. Conclusion Insulin resistance is implicated in atherogenesis.