title: Hemoglobin A1cand Mortality in Older Adults With and Without Diabetes: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1988-2011).
abstract: Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) level has been associated with increased mortality in middle-aged populations. The optimal intensity of glucose control in older adults with diabetes remains uncertain. We sought to estimate the risk of mortality by HbA1clevels among older adults with and without diabetes.
  
  
  
  We analyzed data from adults aged ≥65 years (n= 7,333) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) (1998-1994) and Continuous NHANES (1999-2004) and their linked mortality data (through December 2011). Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the relationship of HbA1cwith the risk of all-cause and cause-specific (cardiovascular disease [CVD], cancer, and non-CVD/noncancer) mortality, separately for adults with diabetes and without diabetes.
  
  
  
  Over a median follow-up of 8.9 years, 4,729 participants died (1,262 from CVD, 850 from cancer, and 2,617 from non-CVD/noncancer causes). Compared with those with diagnosed diabetes and an HbA1c<6.5%, the hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was significantly greater for adults with diabetes with an HbA1c>8.0%. HRs were 1.6 (95% CI 1.02, 2.6) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.3, 2.6) for HbA1c8.0-8.9% and ≥9.0%, respectively (Pfor trend <0.001). Participants with undiagnosed diabetes and HbA1c>6.5% had a 1.3 (95% CI 1.03, 1.8) times greater risk of all-cause mortality compared with participants without diabetes and HbA1c5.0-5.6%.
  
  
  
  An HbA1c>8.0% was associated with increased risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in older adults with diabetes. Our results support the idea that better glycemic control is important for reducing mortality; however, in light of the conflicting evidence base, there is also a need for individualized glycemic targets for older adults with diabetes depending on their demographics, duration of diabetes, and existing comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.|Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palta
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Elbert S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Rita R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kalyani
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.|Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Sherita H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD hyeh1@jhmi.edu.|Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Hsin-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin