title: HbA(1c) levels in non-diabetic Dutch children aged 8-9 years: the PIAMA birth cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) is considered the best index of glycaemic control in established diabetes. It may also be useful in the diagnosis of diabetes and as a screening tool. Little is known about the distribution of HbA(1c) in healthy children and its predictors. The aim of this study is to describe the distribution of HbA(1c) in non-diabetic Dutch children aged 8-9 years and to investigate potential associations of HbA(1c) in this group.
  
  
  METHODS
  HbA(1c) was measured in 788 non-diabetic children aged 8-9 years participating in the PIAMA birth cohort study. Data on parents and children were collected prospectively by questionnaires. Weight, height and waist and hip circumference of the children were measured when blood samples were taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) HbA(1c) was 4.9 +/- 0.33%, range 3.5-6.0%. HbA(1c) was significantly higher in boys (4.9 +/- 0.31 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.33%) and in children of mothers with gestational diabetes (5.0 +/- 0.37 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.32%). We found a significant inverse association between HbA(1c) and haemoglobin (regression coefficient: -0.169 (95% CI -0.221 to -0.118), P < 0.001). HbA(1c) was not significantly associated with age, body mass index, waist circumference, parental diabetes or maternal body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no significant relation between known risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and HbA(1c) at age 8-9 years. Moreover, there was a significant inverse association between haemoglobin and HbA(1c). These results suggest that HbA(1c) may not only reflect the preceding blood glucose levels, but seems to be determined by other factors as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. h.jansen@epi.umcg.nl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wijga
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scholtens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerkhof
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koppelman
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jongste
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stolk
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006615:Hip / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin