title: Change in HbA1c levels between the age of 8 years and the age of 12 years in Dutch children without diabetes: the PIAMA birth cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HbA1c is associated with cardiovascular risk in persons without diabetes and cardiovascular risk accumulates over the life course. Therefore, insight in factors determining HbA1c from childhood onwards is important. We investigated (lifestyle) determinants of HbA1c at age 12 years and the effects of growth on change in HbA1c and the tracking of HbA1c between the age of 8 and 12 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric measurements were taken and HbA1c levels were assessed in 955 children without diabetes aged around 12 years participating in the PIAMA birth cohort study. In 363 of these children HbA1c was also measured at age 8 years. Data on parents and children were collected prospectively by questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no significant association between known risk factors for diabetes and HbA1c at age 12 years. Mean(SD) change in HbA1c between ages 8 and 12 years was 0.6(0.7) mmol/mol per year (or 0.1(0.1) %/yr). Anthropometric measures at age 8 and their change between age 8 and 12 years were not associated with the change in HbA1c. 68.9% of the children remained in the same quintile or had an HbA1c one quintile higher or lower at age 8 years compared to age 12 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of association between known risk factors for diabetes and HbA1c suggest that HbA1c in children without diabetes is relatively unaffected by factors associated with glycaemia. HbA1c at age 8 years is by far the most important predictor of HbA1c at age 12. Therefore, the ranking of HbA1c levels appear to be fairly stable over time.
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Hanneke
authors: H
authors: Jansen
authors: Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors: Alet H
authors: AH
authors: Wijga
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Salome
authors: S
authors: Scholtens
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Gerard H
authors: GH
authors: Koppelman
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonology, GRIAC Research Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Dirkje S
authors: DS
authors: Postma
authors: The Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; The Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Bert
authors: B
authors: Brunekreef
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Johan C
authors: JC
authors: de Jongste
authors: The Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Henriëtte A
authors: HA
authors: Smit
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Ronald P
authors: RP
authors: Stolk
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin