Published online Feb 15, 2021. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i2.149
Peer-review started: November 19, 2020
First decision: November 30, 2020
Revised: December 10, 2020
Accepted: December 23, 2020
Article in press: December 23, 2020
Published online: February 15, 2021
The use of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for the diagnosis of diabetes is a complement to other measures. However, HbA1c is affected by a shortened red blood cell lifespan. In patients with anemia and hemoglobinopathies, the measured HbA1c levels may be inaccurate. Compared with HbA1c, glycated albumin (GA) is more rapid to diagnose new-onset diabetes.
To provide cutoff values for GA and to evaluate its utility as a screening and diagnostic tool for diabetes in a large high-risk group study.
This cross-sectional, high-risk based, large sample study evaluated the GA cut-off for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. A total of 1935 subjects aged 18-79 years took part in a comprehensive assessment, including a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and the measurement of HbA1c and GA.
A linear relationship between variables was determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to determine diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The cut-off value of GA for newly diagnosed diabetes using the OGTT was calculated by ROC analysis using the Youden index.
A significant association at 0, 30, 60, and 120 min. The OGTT was also correlated with GA and HbA1cCorrelations between the OGTT and both GA and HbA1c. GA concentration was significantly and positively correlated with HbA1c level (r = 0.872, P < 0.001). The 2 h-PG levels were positively correlated with GA.
Our study supports the use of GA as a biomarker for the diagnosis of diabetes.
The study should be confirmed in multiple centers and extrapolating the study results to other ethnic groups.