Abstract
AimWe examined whether glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is associated to carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly Korean population with normal fasting glucose.MethodsUsing data from the Korean Urban Rural Elderly study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,133 participants (335 men and 798 women) with a mean age of 71.8 years. All participants had fasting blood glucose less than 100mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) and HbA1c level below 6.5% (48 mmol/mol). They were also free from a history of cardiovascular disease, known type 2 diabetes mellitus or use of anti-diabetes medications. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by intima-media thickness (IMT) using ultrasonography. The association between HbA1c and carotid IMT was investigated using multivariable linear regression analysis.ResultsHbA1c levels were independently and positively associated with carotid IMT (β = 0.020, p = 0.045) after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, smoking and alcohol intake. However, fasting insulin and glucose levels were not associated with carotid IMT.ConclusionHbA1c levels were positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis, as assessed by carotid IMT, in an elderly population with normoglycemia. Our study suggested that higher HbA1c level is an effective and informative marker of carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly population.
Highlights
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is an well-known indicator used to assess long-term control of diabetes, and HbA1c level has been used as a diagnostic or screening tool for type 2 diabetes mellitus[1]
Fasting insulin and glucose levels were not associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)
Our study suggested that higher HbA1c level is an effective and informative marker of carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly population
Summary
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is an well-known indicator used to assess long-term control of diabetes, and HbA1c level has been used as a diagnostic or screening tool for type 2 diabetes mellitus[1]. Previous studies showed positive associations of HbA1c levels with cardiovascular disease and mortality in those with diabetes mellitus[2,3,4,5]. Microvascular complications, such as nephropathy and retinopathy, are associated with HbA1c[6]. HbA1c levels were positively associated with carotid IMT in the people with normoglycemia as well[7,8]. In an elderly Asian population with normal fasting glucose levels, the association between HbA1c and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis has not been fully investigated. In the current study, we evaluated the association between HbA1c and carotid IMT in an elderly Korean population with normal fasting glucose
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