Association between HbA1c and carotid atherosclerosis among elderly Koreans with normal fasting glucose.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is associated to carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly Korean population with normal fasting glucose.


METHODS
Using 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.


RESULTS
HbA1c 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.


CONCLUSIONS
HbA1c 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.
Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seung Won
SW
Lee
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyeon Chang
HC
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yong-Ho
YH
Lee
Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Bo Mi
BM
Song
Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hansol
H
Choi
Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ji Hye
JH
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yumie
Y
Rhee
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chang Oh
CO
Kim
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin