Plasma glycated albumin level and atherosclerosis: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Abstract

BackgroundGlycated albumin (GA) is a measure of the mean plasma glucose concentration over approximately 2–3weeks. This study was done to test the hypothesis that GA can serve as a marker for atherosclerosis, similar to glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). MethodsHbA1c, plasma GA and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured for 1575 residents (age range 26–78years) of a suburban town in Japan. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by ultrasound for each participant. ResultsGA levels had significantly positive correlation coefficients with HbA1c level, hs-CRP level, and max-IMT (all P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated a GA level of ≥15.5% to be optimal for predicting diabetes. A GA level of 15.5% corresponded to an HbA1c level of 5.8%. The hs-CRP and max-IMT values of participants with GA ≥15.5% were significantly higher than the values of those with GA <15.5% (median hs-CRP: 2.4 vs. 2.3mg/L, P=0.048; mean max-IMT 0.852 vs. 0.759mm, P=0.003, respectively). Among obese participants, the hs-CRP and max-IMT values of those with GA ≥15.5% (7.5mg/L and 1.014mm) were significantly higher than the values of those with GA <15.5% (4.7mg/dL and 0.823mm) (P=0.024 and P=0.001, respectively). ConclusionsIncreased IMT and hs-CRP levels were associated with a high GA level, especially for obese participants, suggesting that GA would be as a useful biomarker for assessing the risk of atherosclerosis.