To explore whether specific cutaneous findings are associated with prediabetes among adults with overweight or obesity, and may assist in clinical risk stratification.
Key Findings:
Horseshoe-like plantar hyperkeratosis (HSLPH) was more frequent in participants with prediabetes (25.2%) compared to those without (10.0%), p = 0.039.
HSLPH was associated with higher odds of prediabetes (odds ratio 3.03, 95% CI 1.01–9.06).
HSLPH showed high specificity (90%) but low sensitivity (25%).
Other common skin conditions, including skin tags and onychomycosis, did not differ significantly between groups.
Interpretation:
HSLPH may serve as a visible clinical red flag for metabolic evaluation in adults with overweight or obesity, although its absence does not rule out dysglycemia. Its identification could enhance clinical risk assessment.
Limitations:
Single-center study may limit generalizability.
Subjective assessments of skin conditions may introduce bias.
Inter-rater reliability of skin assessments was not evaluated.
The high-risk nature of the cohort may not reflect the general population.
Conclusion:
HSLPH is the only cutaneous finding associated with prediabetes in this cohort, indicating its potential role in clinical risk assessment and the need for further research.
by Razvigor Darlenski, Vesselina Mihaylova, Karen Manuelyan, Denitza Zheleva, Georgi Bogdanov, Ivan Bogdanov, Todor Kundurzhiev, Pavlina Gateva, Mikael Fogelholm, Anne Raben, Teodora Handjieva-Darlenska
