Korean Diabetes J.  2009 Dec;33(6):503-510. 10.4093/kdj.2009.33.6.503.

The Cutoff Value of HbA1c in Predicting Diabetes in Korean Adults in a University Hospital in Seoul

• Bae JC
• Rhee EJ
• Choi ES
• Kim JH
• Kim WJ
• Yoo SH
• Park SE
• Park CY
• Lee WY
• Oh KW
• Park SW
• Kim SW

• KMID: 2298056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/kdj.2009.33.6.503

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels represent a 2~3 month average of blood glucose concentration. The use of HbA1c as a diagnostic tool for diabetes is gaining interest. Therefore, we determined the cutoff point of HbA1c for predicting abnormal glucose tolerance status in non-diabetic Korean subjects. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 1,482 subjects without diabetes mellitus in whom a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed due to suspected abnormal glucose tolerance. We obtained an HbA1c cutoff point for predicting diabetes using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: A cut-off point of 5.95% HbA1c yielded sensitivity of 60.8% and specificity of 85.6%, respectively, for predicting diabetes. There was a difference in HbA1c cut-off value between men and women, 5.85% and 6.05%, respectively. CONCLUSION: To use the cut-off point of 5.95% HbA1c for predicting undiagnosed diabetes in Koreans may be reliable. However, studies of different ethnic groups have reported disparate HbA1c cut-off points. Thus, ethnicity, age, gender, and population prevalence of diabetes are important factors to consider in using elevated HbA1c value as a tool to diagnose diabetes.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Glycated hemoglobin A1c

MeSH Terms

Adult
Blood Glucose
Diabetes Mellitus
Ethnic Groups
Female
Glucose
Glucose Tolerance Test
Hemoglobins
Humans
Male
Prevalence
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Blood Glucose
Glucose
Hemoglobins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Receiver operating characteristic curves for HbA1c corresponding undiagnosed diabetes defined by ADA criteria.

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