The validity of HbA1C detection in diagnosing and screening dysglycemia in children with obesity

The validity of the recently recommended HbA1C criterion by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in identification of dysglycemia in children with obesity was evaluated. 293 obese children underwent oral glucose tolerance test. Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve analysis was used to examine the sensitivity and specificity of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1C in identifying dysglycemia. The results showed that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was 3.8％ and prediabetes 16. 0％ based on plasma glucose standard. 4. 1％ and 25.6％ were categorized as T2DM and “at high risk of diabetes mellitus” based on both HbA1C and plasma glucose criteria. HbA1C was more efficacious than FPG in detecting abnormal glucose tolerance as shown by the areas under the curve in ROC of 0. 875 and 0. 713 respectively (P＜0. 01 ). The sensitivity and specificity were 60. 5％ and 86. 8％ at HbA1C ≥5.7％, and 30. 5％ and 94.0％ at FPG ≥ 5.6 mmol/L. Key words: HbA1C ;  Obese children;  Diabetes mellitus, type 2 ;  Oral glucose tolerance test