Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study

Little is understood about the relationship between glycated haemoglobin and future functional health in the general population. In this work, we aimed to assess if glycaemic control is associated with future physical and mental functional health at 18-month follow-up in a UK general population, in...

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Main Authors: Fiona McLachlan, Alexandra M. Johnstone, Phyo Kyaw Myint
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Journal of Personalized Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/9/1336
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author Fiona McLachlan
Alexandra M. Johnstone
Phyo Kyaw Myint
author_facet Fiona McLachlan
Alexandra M. Johnstone
Phyo Kyaw Myint
author_sort Fiona McLachlan
collection DOAJ
description Little is understood about the relationship between glycated haemoglobin and future functional health in the general population. In this work, we aimed to assess if glycaemic control is associated with future physical and mental functional health at 18-month follow-up in a UK general population, in those with and without diabetes. This work was a cross-sectional study. Between 1995 and 1997, participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer, Norfolk, attended a health check including blood testing for haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire. Eighteen months later, self-reported physical and mental functional health were assessed using short form-36 (SF-36). Outcomes of interest included physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS, respectively) scores of the SF-36. A total of 7343 participants (56% women, mean (SD) 58.1 ± 9.5 years) were eligible to be included, of whom 167 had prevalent diabetes. In our linear regression analysis, a higher HbA1c (mmol/mol) was found to be associated with a poorer PCS score (coefficient −0.15 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001)) at follow-up. After adjustment for comorbid conditions, including obesity, this association was no longer statistically significant. A higher HbA1c (mmol/mol) was associated with a better MCS score at follow-up; this finding was significant when adjusted for comorbid conditions (coefficient 0.029 (<i>p</i> < 0.05)). Our findings suggest that the association between a higher HbA1c and poorer physical functional health is explained by a higher BMI and comorbidity status in a general population. While higher HbA1c was found to be associated with higher mental functional health at follow-up, the magnitude of this association was small. Healthy responder bias and unmeasured confounding variables may have influenced this result; thus, it should be interpreted with caution.
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spelling doaj.art-72a7821cb11249bb8ee508aa3ddccbfc2023-11-19T11:30:48ZengMDPI AGJournal of Personalized Medicine2075-44262023-08-01139133610.3390/jpm13091336Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based StudyFiona McLachlan0Alexandra M. Johnstone1Phyo Kyaw Myint2Ageing Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) Team, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Room 4.013, Polwarth Building, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UKThe Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UKAgeing Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) Team, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Room 4.013, Polwarth Building, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UKLittle is understood about the relationship between glycated haemoglobin and future functional health in the general population. In this work, we aimed to assess if glycaemic control is associated with future physical and mental functional health at 18-month follow-up in a UK general population, in those with and without diabetes. This work was a cross-sectional study. Between 1995 and 1997, participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer, Norfolk, attended a health check including blood testing for haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire. Eighteen months later, self-reported physical and mental functional health were assessed using short form-36 (SF-36). Outcomes of interest included physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS, respectively) scores of the SF-36. A total of 7343 participants (56% women, mean (SD) 58.1 ± 9.5 years) were eligible to be included, of whom 167 had prevalent diabetes. In our linear regression analysis, a higher HbA1c (mmol/mol) was found to be associated with a poorer PCS score (coefficient −0.15 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001)) at follow-up. After adjustment for comorbid conditions, including obesity, this association was no longer statistically significant. A higher HbA1c (mmol/mol) was associated with a better MCS score at follow-up; this finding was significant when adjusted for comorbid conditions (coefficient 0.029 (<i>p</i> < 0.05)). Our findings suggest that the association between a higher HbA1c and poorer physical functional health is explained by a higher BMI and comorbidity status in a general population. While higher HbA1c was found to be associated with higher mental functional health at follow-up, the magnitude of this association was small. Healthy responder bias and unmeasured confounding variables may have influenced this result; thus, it should be interpreted with caution.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/9/1336diabeteshealth-related quality of lifeepidemiologyfunctional healthglycated haemoglobin
spellingShingle Fiona McLachlan
Alexandra M. Johnstone
Phyo Kyaw Myint
Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study
Journal of Personalized Medicine
diabetes
health-related quality of life
epidemiology
functional health
glycated haemoglobin
title Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study
title_full Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study
title_fullStr Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study
title_full_unstemmed Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study
title_short Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and Future Physical and Mental Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk Population-Based Study
title_sort glycated haemoglobin hba1c and future physical and mental functional health in the european prospective investigation into cancer epic norfolk population based study
topic diabetes
health-related quality of life
epidemiology
functional health
glycated haemoglobin
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/9/1336
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