Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience
Deborah Taira Juarez, Kendra M Demaris, Roy Goo, Christina Louise Mnatzaganian, Helen Wong SmithDaniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Honolulu, HI, USAAbstract: The 2014 American Diabetes Association guidelines denote four means of diagnosing diabetes. The first of these...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2014-10-01
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| Series: | Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity |
| Online Access: | http://www.dovepress.com/significance-of-hba1c-and-its-measurement-in-the-diagnosis-of-diabetes-peer-reviewed-article-DMSO |
| _version_ | 1811174046201544704 |
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| author | Juarez DT Demaris KM Goo R Mnatzaganian CL Wong Smith H |
| author_facet | Juarez DT Demaris KM Goo R Mnatzaganian CL Wong Smith H |
| author_sort | Juarez DT |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Deborah Taira Juarez, Kendra M Demaris, Roy Goo, Christina Louise Mnatzaganian, Helen Wong SmithDaniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Honolulu, HI, USAAbstract: The 2014 American Diabetes Association guidelines denote four means of diagnosing diabetes. The first of these is a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >6.5%. This literature review summarizes studies (n=47) in the USA examining the significance, strengths, and limitations of using HbA1c as a diagnostic tool for diabetes, relative to other available means. Due to the relatively recent adoption of HbA1c as a diabetes mellitus diagnostic tool, a hybrid systematic, truncated review of the literature was implemented. Based on these studies, we conclude that HbA1c screening for diabetes has been found to be convenient and effective in diagnosing diabetes. HbA1c screening is particularly helpful in community-based and acute care settings where tests requiring fasting are not practical. Using HbA1c to diagnose diabetes also has some limitations. For instance, HbA1c testing may underestimate the prevalence of diabetes, particularly among whites. Because this bias differs by racial group, prevalence and resulting estimates of health disparities based on HbA1c screening differ from those based on other methods of diagnosis. In addition, existing evidence suggests that HbA1c screening may not be valid in certain subgroups, such as children, women with gestational diabetes, patients with human immunodeficiency virus, and those with prediabetes. Further guidelines are needed to clarify the appropriate use of HbA1c screening in these populations.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, diagnosis, glycosylated hemoglobin, USA |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:56:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed7d53de2a0a409698667cb8485d9ae8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-7007 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:56:45Z |
| publishDate | 2014-10-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed7d53de2a0a409698667cb8485d9ae82023-02-02T18:01:09ZengDove Medical PressDiabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity1178-70072014-10-012014default48749418830Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experienceJuarez DTDemaris KMGoo RMnatzaganian CLWong Smith HDeborah Taira Juarez, Kendra M Demaris, Roy Goo, Christina Louise Mnatzaganian, Helen Wong SmithDaniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Honolulu, HI, USAAbstract: The 2014 American Diabetes Association guidelines denote four means of diagnosing diabetes. The first of these is a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >6.5%. This literature review summarizes studies (n=47) in the USA examining the significance, strengths, and limitations of using HbA1c as a diagnostic tool for diabetes, relative to other available means. Due to the relatively recent adoption of HbA1c as a diabetes mellitus diagnostic tool, a hybrid systematic, truncated review of the literature was implemented. Based on these studies, we conclude that HbA1c screening for diabetes has been found to be convenient and effective in diagnosing diabetes. HbA1c screening is particularly helpful in community-based and acute care settings where tests requiring fasting are not practical. Using HbA1c to diagnose diabetes also has some limitations. For instance, HbA1c testing may underestimate the prevalence of diabetes, particularly among whites. Because this bias differs by racial group, prevalence and resulting estimates of health disparities based on HbA1c screening differ from those based on other methods of diagnosis. In addition, existing evidence suggests that HbA1c screening may not be valid in certain subgroups, such as children, women with gestational diabetes, patients with human immunodeficiency virus, and those with prediabetes. Further guidelines are needed to clarify the appropriate use of HbA1c screening in these populations.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, diagnosis, glycosylated hemoglobin, USAhttp://www.dovepress.com/significance-of-hba1c-and-its-measurement-in-the-diagnosis-of-diabetes-peer-reviewed-article-DMSO |
| spellingShingle | Juarez DT Demaris KM Goo R Mnatzaganian CL Wong Smith H Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity |
| title | Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience |
| title_full | Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience |
| title_fullStr | Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience |
| title_short | Significance of HbA1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: US experience |
| title_sort | significance of hba1c and its measurement in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus us experience |
| url | http://www.dovepress.com/significance-of-hba1c-and-its-measurement-in-the-diagnosis-of-diabetes-peer-reviewed-article-DMSO |
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