Should HbA1c Cutoffs Differ for Blacks and Whites?

Using retinopathy as a marker, researchers argue against a higher glycosylated hemoglobin cutoff for diagnosing diabetes in black patients.

At any given glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) measurements consistently are higher in black patients than in white patients, and many experts have debated the appropriateness of diagnostic cutoffs that fail to account for this racial difference. To examine the clinical relevance of this observation, researchers compared the relation between HbA_1c level and prevalence of retinopathy among blacks and whites. Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2008) were used; more than 3800 individuals (age, ≥40) were included in the analysis, and all participants underwent retinal imaging.

After adjustment for multiple variables, including age, blood pressure, body-mass index, and use of antidiab…

Reviewing Author

Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportColorado Health Foundation

Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportColorado Health Foundation

Should HbA_1c Cutoffs Differ for Blacks and Whites?

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Reviewing Author