Racial disparity in A1C independent of mean blood glucose in children with type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Mean blood glucose (MBG) and MBG-independent factors both influence A1C levels. Race was related to A1C independent of MBG in adults. The goal of this study was to determine if racial disparity exists in A1C independent of MBG in children with diabetes.


METHODS
Participants included 276 children with type 1 diabetes. A1C and MBG were obtained from multiple clinic visits, and a hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) (an assessment of A1C levels independent of MBG) was calculated. A1C and HGI were analyzed controlling for age, diabetes duration, and MBG. RESULTS African Americans had statistically significantly higher A1C (9.1 +/- 0.1) and HGI (0.64 +/- 0.11) than Caucasians (A1C 8.3 +/- 0.1, HGI -0.15 +/- 0.07) independent of covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of racial disparity in A1C, which is independent of MBG, we recommend that A1C and MBG be used together to make therapeutic decisions for children with diabetes.
Kamps
Jodi L
JL
Department of Psychology, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. jkamps@chnola.org
Hempe
James M
JM
Chalew
Stuart A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human