Lisa R Staimez1, Lauren M Kipling2, J Nina Ham3, Brian T Legvold2, Sandra L Jackson4, Peter W F Wilson5, Mary K Rhee6, Lawrence S Phillips6. 1. Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: lisa.staimez@emory.edu. 2. Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. 3. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, 100 Woodruff Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA. 4. Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. 5. Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, 100 Woodruff Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, USA. 6. Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, USA; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, 100 Woodruff Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Abstract
AIMS: To assess the prevalence and clinical implications of "mismatches" between HbA1c and glucose levels in the United States across the life course. METHODS: Participants ages 12-79 years from U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2016 without known diagnosis of diabetes and who had a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test were included. Previously undiagnosed diabetes (DM), prediabetes, and normal glucose metabolism (NGM) were defined using American Diabetes Association cut-points. Mismatches were defined by the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI). RESULTS: In 10,361 participants, 5% and 41% had diabetes and prediabetes, respectively, by fasting or 2-hour glucose criteria. By HbA1c criteria, the high HGI tertile consisted of mostly abnormal classification (3% DM, 52% prediabetes) and the low HGI tertile contained mostly normal classification (78% NGM). Across all ages, 15% (weighted: 30 million individuals) had clinically significant mismatches of HGI magnitude ≥+0.5% (i.e., high mismatch) or ≤-0.5% (low mismatch). Mismatch was most common in older adults and non-Hispanic Black participants. CONCLUSIONS: Mismatches of clinically significant magnitude could lead to HbA1c-related misdiagnosis or inappropriate management in up to 30 million Americans. Older adults, non-Hispanic Black individuals, and others with high mismatches may benefit from complementing HbA1c with additional diagnostic and management strategies.
AIMS: To assess the prevalence and clinical implications of "mismatches" between HbA1c and glucose levels in the United States across the life course. METHODS: Participants ages 12-79 years from U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2016 without known diagnosis of diabetes and who had a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test were included. Previously undiagnosed diabetes (DM), prediabetes, and normal glucose metabolism (NGM) were defined using American Diabetes Association cut-points. Mismatches were defined by the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI). RESULTS: In 10,361 participants, 5% and 41% had diabetes and prediabetes, respectively, by fasting or 2-hour glucose criteria. By HbA1c criteria, the high HGI tertile consisted of mostly abnormal classification (3% DM, 52% prediabetes) and the low HGI tertile contained mostly normal classification (78% NGM). Across all ages, 15% (weighted: 30 million individuals) had clinically significant mismatches of HGI magnitude ≥+0.5% (i.e., high mismatch) or ≤-0.5% (low mismatch). Mismatch was most common in older adults and non-Hispanic Black participants. CONCLUSIONS: Mismatches of clinically significant magnitude could lead to HbA1c-related misdiagnosis or inappropriate management in up to 30 million Americans. Older adults, non-Hispanic Black individuals, and others with high mismatches may benefit from complementing HbA1c with additional diagnostic and management strategies.