Hemoglobin A<sub>1c</sub>Diagnostic Cutoff Differences Between Black and White Persons
Authors: Samuel Dagogo-Jack
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters1 January 2013Hemoglobin A1c Diagnostic Cutoff Differences Between Black and White PersonsSamuel Dagogo-Jack, MD, MBBSSamuel Dagogo-Jack, MD, MBBSFrom University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-1-201301010-00017 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:On the basis of their analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 through 2008, Tsugawa and colleagues (1) report a retinopathy prevalence of 6.3% for white persons and 13.1% for black persons. Using as a reference category a control group with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels less than 5.5%, the authors state that white persons showed a significantly greater adjusted prevalence of retinopathy at HbA1c levels of 6.0% to 6.4% or higher compared with 5.5% to 5.9% for black persons.This report that black persons develop “diabetic retinopathy” at lower HbA1c levels ...References1. Tsugawa Y, Mukamal KJ, Davis RB, Taylor WC, Wee CC. Should the hemoglobin A(1c) diagnostic cutoff differ between blacks and whites?: a cross-sectional study. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157:153-9. [PMID: 22868832] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Karter AJ, Ferrara A, Liu JY, Moffet HH, Ackerson LM, Selby JV. Ethnic disparities in diabetic complications in an insured population. JAMA. 2002;287:2519-27. [PMID: 12020332] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Dagogo-Jack S. Pitfalls in the use of HbA1(c) as a diagnostic test: the ethnic conundrum. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2010;6:589-93. [PMID: 20680035] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Selvin E, Steffes MW, Ballantyne CM, Hoogeveen RC, Coresh J, Brancati FL. Racial differences in glycemic markers: a cross-sectional analysis of community-based data. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154:303-9. [PMID: 21357907] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Kennedy JJ, Cope CB. Intraocular lesions associated with sickle-cell disease. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 1957;8:163-8. [PMID: 13443572] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.Disclosures: Consultancy: Merck, Novo Nordisk, Santarus, Amylin. Grants/grants pending (money to institution): AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim. Payment for lectures including service on speakers bureaus: Merck. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoShould the Hemoglobin A1c Diagnostic Cutoff Differ Between Blacks and Whites? Yusuke Tsugawa , Kenneth J. Mukamal , Roger B. Davis , William C. Taylor , and Christina C. Wee Hemoglobin A1c Diagnostic Cutoff Differences Between Black and White Persons Yusuke Tsugawa , Kenneth J. Mukamal , and Christina C. Wee Metrics 1 January 2013Volume 158, Issue 1Page: 73KeywordsAlbuminsDiabetic retinopathyGlucoseHbA1cHealth surveysHemoglobinHyperglycemiaLesionsNutritionRetinopathy ePublished: 1 January 2013 Issue Published: 1 January 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...