Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and intermediate glucose abnormalities in obese patients based on ADA (1997) and WHO (1985) criteria.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of the 1997 ADA criteria for diagnosing diabetes mellitus and related glucose disturbances in comparison with the reference WHO 1985 criteria in obese subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 286 men and 881 women, 15-84 years of age, with obesity (body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m2), an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was carried out according to WHO standard. Patients were classified into three categories of glucose tolerance using WHO 1985 (Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM)) and ADA (Normal Fasting Glucose (NFG), Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and DM) criteria. Prevalence of each category was compared and agreement between the two classifications was assessed. The relation between fasting plasma glucose value and diabetes, as diagnosed by WHO 1985 criteria, was studied using various regression models, cumulative frequency curves, Finch method and ROC curve. RESULTS: Compared with WHO 1985, ADA criteria strongly underestimated the prevalence rate of diabetes (3.7% vs. 10.6%) and intermediate glucose abnormalities (6.0% vs. 22.4%). Agreement between the two classifications was poor (kappa = 0.23). Moreover, many patients defined as glucose-intolerant by the WHO 1985 criteria were shifted to a more favourable metabolic status by ADA criteria. Thus, ADA criteria failed to detect 69% of WHO diabetic patients and 89% with IGT were considered as normal. According to the method, cut-off value of fasting blood glucose for detecting WHO 1985-diagnosed diabetes varied widely, from 5.3 to 6.3 mmol/l and none was satisfactory because of poor sensitivity and positive predictive value. CONCLUSION: The ADA criteria do not appear to be a good substitute for those of the WHO 1985 at identifying diabetes and intermediate glucose abnormalities in an obese population. Since it appears impossible to determine a reliable cut-off value for fasting blood glucose to identify diabetic obese subjects with sufficient sensitivity, our results justify the retention of the OGTT in clinical practice or for epidemiological studies.     

Irish diabetes detection programme in general practice.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in patients over the age of 40 years attending their general practitioner (GP) in Ireland, through opportunistic screening, using a three-step screening tool involving self-determined high-risk groups, random venous plasma glucose (RVPG) measurement and oral glucose tolerance tests. DESIGN: In participating general practices, 100 consecutive patients > 40 years, completed a screening questionnaire relating to diabetes-related symptoms and risk factors. Patients with previously diagnosed diabetes were not excluded from the study and the screening instrument included a question about known diabetes. Patients without known diabetes mellitus (DM) and with at least two risk factors and/or symptoms underwent a RVPG test. Those with an RVPG above 5.5 mmol/l underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: Forty-one practices returned 3821 questionnaires. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the study population was 9.2% (353), of whom 23.5% (83) were previously undiagnosed. DM was detected on the basis of an RVPG >11.1 mmol/l in 0.8% (32) of the studied population. DM was detected on the basis of the oral glucose tolerance test in 1.3% (51) of the population. One per cent (39) had a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > or = 7.0 mmol/l, 0.6% (24) had a 2-h >11.0 mmol/l and 0.3% (12) had both. Diabetes would not have been detected in 12 people had the 2-h test been omitted. The prevalence rate for IFG and/or IGT was 3.9% (148). Of the 103 patients with IGT, 83 (81%) would have been missed had the GTT been omitted. CONCLUSION: Opportunistic diabetes screening in general practice using a screening questionnaire followed by RVPG testing and GTT for those above 5.5 mmol/l is feasible, with a high participation rate. The use of GTTs rather than fasting glucose testing alone improves patient identification, in particular those with IGT who are at higher cardiovascular risk.     

Comparison of the current WHO and new ADA criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in three ethnic groups in the UK

The American Diabetes Association have recommended that the fasting plasma glucose level for the diagnosis of diabetes is lowered and that this becomes the main diagnostic test. We have used population-based data from three ethnic groups in Newcastle upon Tyne to examine the implications of this change. Data were available on 824 European (25–74 years), 375 Chinese (25–64 years), and 680 South Asian (25–74 years) subjects. All subjects apart from those reporting a prior diagnosis of diabetes underwent a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (WHO criteria) which included the measurement of fasting glucose. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in all three ethnic groups using the new ADA criteria compared to the WHO criteria: 7.1 % vs 4.8 % in Europeans; 6.2 % vs 4.7 % in Chinese; and 21.4 % vs 20.1 % in South Asians. There was much variation in individuals categorized by the ADA and WHO criteria. Agreement between the two for the diagnosis of previously unknown diabetes was only moderate (kappa statistics 0.42 to 0.59). Thus in the populations studied the new criteria would increase the prevalence of diabetes in addition to classifying some individuals diabetic by current criteria as non-diabetic. It should be stressed however that diagnosis of the individual should not be based on a single test.     

Comparison of ADA and WHO criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes in elderly Koreans.

AIMS: This study was conducted to compare the prevalence and cardiovascular risk factors of different categories of glucose tolerance in the elderly Korean population using World Health Organization (WHO) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. METHODS: This study included 1456 non-diabetic subjects over the age of 60 years, selected from a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in 1999 in Seoul, Korea. Fasting and post-challenge 2-h plasma glucose, insulin levels, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, and lipid profiles were examined. Prevalence of glucose tolerance categories and the level of agreement (kappa statistics) were obtained using WHO 2-h criteria and ADA fasting criteria. Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors among several concordant and discordant glucose intolerance groups was done. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of newly diagnosed diabetes of elderly men defined by WHO 2-h criteria and ADA fasting criteria were 11.8% and 4.8%, respectively. That of elderly women was 8.1% by WHO 2-h criteria and 3.1% by ADA fasting criteria. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) by WHO criteria was also higher than that of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) by ADA criteria (23.5% vs. 10.0% men, 23.7% vs. 7.5% women). The level of agreement between ADA fasting criteria and WHO 2-h criteria was low (weighted kappa = 0.228 men, weighted kappa = 0.301 women). The concordant diabetic women by both ADA fasting criteria and WHO 2-h criteria showed higher BMI, WHR, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than concordant normal subjects. However, the isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia (IPH) women group was not different significantly from the concordant normal women group except in BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly show that the 1997 ADA fasting criteria are less sensitive for diagnosing diabetes than oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-based WHO criteria in elderly Koreans. Also, there is a poor agreement of different categories of glucose tolerance between ADA and WHO criteria; therefore, the OGTT remains a valuable test in diagnosing diabetes and classifying various categories of glucose intolerance, especially in elderly Koreans.     

Prevalence and determinants of diabetes mellitus and glucose intolerance in a Canarian Caucasian population - comparison of the 1997 ADA and the 1985 WHO criteria. The Guía Study.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance in a Canarian population according to the 1997 ADA and the 1985 WHO criteria; and to study the cardiovascular risk factors associated with these categories. METHODS: A total of 691 subjects over 30 years old were chosen in a random sampling of the population (stratified by age and sex). An oral glucose tolerance test was performed (excluding known diabetic patients) and lipids were determined in the fasting state. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed, and history of smoking habits and medications was recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes was 15.9% (1997 ADA) and 18.7% (1985 WHO); the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance was 8.8 and 17.1%, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes (Segi's standard world population) for the population aged 30-64 years was 12.4% (1985 WHO). The risk factors significantly associated with diabetes (1997 ADA and 1985 WHO) were age, body mass index; waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and mean blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol and low HDL-cholesterol. Age, body mass index and systolic blood pressure were associated with impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance; triglycerides were also associated with impaired fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and glucose intolerance in Guía is one of the highest among studied Caucasian populations. The new 1997 ADA criteria estimate a lower prevalence of diabetes. Impaired fasting glucose also had a lower prevalence than impaired glucose intolerance and the overlap of these categories was modest.     

Post-partum reclassification of glucose tolerance in women previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To re-evaluate post-partum screening; fasting plasma glucose (FPG) vs. oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in Caucasian women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: Once breast-feeding had finished, an OGTT was performed in 120 women with previous GDM. They were classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) 1985 and American Diabetes Association (ADA) 1997 criteria. The kappa-statistic measure of agreement was used to compared both diagnostic categories. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve studied the FPG as a test to detect abnormal glucose tolerance. RESULTS: Identical diabetes prevalence (2%) but quite different intermediate categories (12% impaired glucose tolerance vs. 3% impaired fasting glucose) were observed with both criteria. The kappa-statistic (scaled from 0 to 1) was 0.38 (fair agreement), P = 0.000. The ROC curve area of the FPG was 0.65. CONCLUSIONS: FPG is an unsatisfactory method of evaluating the glucose tolerance of Caucasian women with previous GDM. OGTT may be a better test for such a purpose.     

Prediction of diabetes using ADA or WHO criteria in post-menopausal women: a 10-year follow-up study

Aims/hypothesis. To study the risk of women with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) as against impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) developing diabetes.¶Methods. Oral glucose tolerance tests (75 g) were done in 265 women selected at random at baseline (age 55–57 years) and at a 10-year follow-up. Of the women 42 had IFG/NGT (fasting glucose 6.1–6.9 mmol/l, 2-h glucose < 7.8 mmol/l), 66 IGT/NFG (2-h glucose 7.8–11.0 mmol/l, fasting glucose < 6.1 mmol/l), 30 IGT/IFG and 127 NFG/NGT.¶Results. The 10-year progression to diabetes was similar in IGT/NFG (12.1 %) and IFG/NGT groups (11.9 %, p = 0.97). In IGT/IFG, 20.0 % had developed diabetes, which was not significantly higher than in IFG/NGT and IGT/NFG (p = 0.53). In NFG/NGT at baseline, only 3.9 % had developed diabetes, which was lower than in the other groups (p = 0.023).¶Conclusion/interpretation. Fasting and 2-h glucose concentrations are equally good in predicting diabetes development over a 10-year period in Caucasian postmenopausal women. Because IGT is more common than IFG, measuring only fasting glucose concentrations would, however, result in missing a prediabetic stage in a large group of people at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 1224–1228]     

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose regulation in the Canary Islands (Spain): prevalence and associated factors in the adult population of Telde, Gran Canaria.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence and the determinants of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) in an adult Canarian population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. One thousand and thirty subjects aged 30-82 years were randomly selected. Participants completed a survey questionnaire and underwent blood pressure measurements, anthropometry, blood samples, and a 75-g standardized oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 15.8% (95% confidence interval: 11.8-19.8) in men and 10.6% (7.1-14.1) in women. Total prevalence was 13.2% (11.1-15.2). Among individuals with diabetes, 55.4% of men and 38.2% of women were not previously diagnosed. The age-standardized prevalences of impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glycaemia were 11.4% (9.5-13.4) and 2.8% (1.8-3.8), respectively. In multivariate analyses, age, waist circumference, serum triglycerides, and familial history of diabetes were independently associated with diabetes in both sexes, while a value of C-reactive protein (CRP) >/= 1 mg/l showed an association with diabetes, but only in men. Age and triglycerides were related to impaired glucose regulation (IGR) in both sexes, waist circumference was related to IGR exclusively in men, and familial diabetes exclusively in women. Statistically significant interactions between gender and both CRP and triglycerides were found with respect to diabetes, and between gender and both waist circumference and triglycerides for IGR. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the rest of Spain, the prevalence of diabetes is moderately increased in this area of the Canary Islands. Along with other well-established risk factors, CRP was independently associated with diabetes, but only in the male population.     

Increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in all ethnic groups in Mauritius.

AIMS: To describe the prevalence of different stages of glucose intolerance in a population from Mauritius followed over 11 years. METHODS: Population-based surveys were undertaken in the multiethnic nation of Mauritius in 1987, 1992 and 1998, with 5083, 6616, and 6291 participants, respectively. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were included. Subjects aged between 25 and 75 years with classifiable data were identified; 4991, 6463 and 5392 from 1987, 1992 and 1998, respectively. Glucose tolerance was classified according to WHO 1999 criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes increased significantly during the period studied, from 12.8% in 1987, to 15.2% in 1992, and 17.9% in 1998. The increasing prevalence was seen in both men and women, and in all age groups. The prevalence of known diabetes (KDM) increased progressively, and more markedly than the increase in newly diagnosed diabetes (NDM). A diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was more prevalent amongst women whereas impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was more common amongst men. The prevalences of IGT and IFG did not change markedly during the period. The prevalence of diabetes and IGT was similar for participants of Indian, Creole and Chinese background in each survey, and the increasing prevalence of diabetes was seen in all ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, we report an increasing prevalence of diabetes over an 11-year period in Mauritius. This increase was seen in both sexes, and in all age and ethnic groups, and was mainly due to an increase in the numbers of those with known diabetes.     

The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes defined by fasting and 2-h plasma glucose criteria in urban Nepal.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in people aged >/= 40 years in urban communities of Nepal, comparing the fasting and 2-h plasma glucose (PG) criteria for diagnosis of diabetes and to relate the prevalence to age, gender and hypertension. METHODS: Field surveys of fasting and 2-h PG and blood pressure (BP) were done by cluster sampling in seven urban populations of Nepal. Of 1180 eligible individuals invited, 1012 (85.7%) aged >/= 40 years participated. RESULT: The age and sex standardized prevalence of diabetes (known and newly diagnosed), IGT and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) were 19.0%, 10.6% and 9.9%, respectively. Of the total population, 30.5% (37.8% of men and 25.3% of women) had some abnormality of glucose tolerance. Of all diabetic individuals, 54.4% (53.8% of men and 55.1% of women) were undiagnosed. The prevalence of diabetes increased with age until the age of 75 years. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in men than in women (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) criterion compared with either FPG or 2-h PG or both criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes was 70.5%[95% confidence interval (CI) 60.7, 78.8] and the corresponding sensitivity of 2-h PG criterion was 79% (95% CI 69.8, 86.1). The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of hypertension (BP >/= 140/90 mmHg) was 22.7%. Hypertension was less common in subjects with normal plasma glucose than in those with diabetes (18.8% vs. 36.7%). Similarly, of all subjects with hypertension, 29.1% had diabetes (known or newly diagnosed) and 43.0% had glucose intolerance of some form. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that diabetes and hypertension are common and related problems in people aged >/= 40 years in urban Nepal. The overall sensitivity of the 2-h PG criteria was greater than that of the FPG criteria for diagnosing diabetes, except in subjects aged >/= 60 years.     

Validation of an algorithm combining haemoglobin A1c and fasting plasma glucose for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in UK and Australian populations

Aim To determine whether glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) can be used in combination with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) for the diagnosis of diabetes in patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and in a broader spectrum of patients. Methods An algorithm was derived from oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) capillary samples in 500 consecutive UK patients with IFG by World Health Organization criteria. It was validated in a further 500 UK patients and, with venous specimens, in 1175 unselected Australian patients. Results The derivation cohort was aged 61 years (50–69 years) (median IQ range) with 52% male and 12% South Asian. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial‐aligned HbA_1c was 6.2% (5.8–6.6%) (reference interval < 6.0%) and FPG 6.7 mmol/l (6.3–7.2 mmol/l). FPG was in the diabetes range in 36% of patients, with an OGTT identifying a further 12% with diabetes. The derived algorithm, (HbA_1c ≥ 6.0% with FPG < 7.0 mmol/l) identified those patients requiring an OGTT to diagnose diabetes. When applied to the UK validation cohort, sensitivity was 97% and specificity 100%. The algorithm was equally effective in the unselected group, aged 59 years (49–68 years) and 54% male, with sensitivity 93% and specificity 100%. HbA_1c was 6.0% (5.6–6.6%) and FPG 6.0 mmol/l (5.3–6.8 mmol/l), with 26% having IFG. Use of the algorithm would reduce the number of OGTTs performed in the UK validation cohort by 33% and by 66% in the Australian patients studied. Conclusions Use of this algorithm would simplify procedures for diagnosis of diabetes and could also be used for monitoring pre‐diabetes. Validation is now required in other populations and patient groups.     

Reduced prevalence of diabetes according to 1997 American Diabetes Association criteria

Abstract Aims/hypothesis. We examined the prevalence of diabetes and investigated the characteristics of subjects diagnosed by the American Diabetes Association and the World Health Organization criteria. Methods. A total of 1235 Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii and Los Angeles was studied. Of the subjects 114 were classified as previously diagnosed as having diabetes. A 75-g glucose tolerance test was given to the rest of the subjects. Results. When abnormal glucose tolerance was diagnosed by the American Diabetes Association criteria, it was possible to identify only 40 % of diabetic subjects who had not been previously diagnosed compared with the current World Health Organization criteria based on a glucose tolerance test. In addition, the subjects identified by the American Diabetes Association criteria had higher glucose concentrations and had less insulin secretory capacity and they were in need of intensive treatment for diabetes. On the other hand, the subjects not diagnosed by the American Diabetes Association criteria alone were those whose glucose tolerance would be more likely to improve with lifestyle modification. Conclusion/interpretation. It might be better to use the fasting plasma glucose criterion advocated by the American Diabetes Association in combination with a glucose tolerance test after taking a detailed medical history. To reduce the number of subjects requiring the glucose tolerance test, priority should be given to subjects with impaired fasting glucose (6.1 ≤ fasting plasma glucose < 7.0 mmol/l). [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 1168–1170] Received: 22 March 1999 and in revised form: 26 May 1999     

Potential impact of a change in the diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus on the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in a local community at risk of diabetes: impact of new diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To compare the prevalence of diabetes and abnormal glucose metabolism using conventional and suggested new WHO and new ADA criteria in a group of people with symptoms of diabetes. METHODS: We examined retrospectively the results of 154 consecutive OGTTs in such patients performed using capillary whole blood. RESULTS: With the 1985 WHO criteria. Forty-four point eight per cent of subjects (69 subjects, with 95% confidence intervals, 37-52.6%) had diabetes, 47.8% (33 subjects, 36-59.6%) had a normal fasting glucose, 31.2% (48 subjects, 23.9-38.5%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 76% (117 subjects, 69.3-82.7%) had abnormal glucose tolerance. Applying the ADA criteria (fasting capillary whole blood only), 33.1% (51 subjects, 25.7-40.5%) had diabetes (a 26% relative reduction) and 11% (17 subjects, 6.1-15.9%) IFG, with 44.1% (68 subjects, 36.3-51.9%) having abnormal glucose metabolism (a 42% relative reduction). If the proposed 1998 WHO criteria were used, the number with diabetes increase to 48% (74 subjects, 40.1-55.9%) a 7.2% increase on the old criteria. 27.9% (43 subjects, 20.8-35%) had IGT, so the number with some degree of abnormal glucose metabolism remains unchanged. Use of the ADA criteria, considering only the fasting glucose as suggested, will result in a significant reduction in the diagnosis of diabetes and those with abnormal glucose metabolism.     

Diabetes screening after gestational diabetes mellitus: poor performance of fasting plasma glucose

Abstract. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an established risk factor for the development of overt diabetes. Since the change in diagnostic criteria for diabetes in 1997, it is unclear whether there should be any preference for fasting or post-glucose challenge blood glucose in diagnosing diabetes after GDM. The study aimed at assessing the usefulness of both diagnostic methods in women after GDM. The study enrolled 193 women with previous GDM. Women who did not have a current diagnosis of diabetes were screened for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and for glucose intolerance with an oral 75-g glucose tolerance test. A total of 45 (23.3%) subjects declared to be already diabetic. Of the 148 non-diabetic subjects, 141 (95.3%) had normal fasting plasma glucose, whereas four (2.8%) had IFG (i.e. FPG6.1 and <7.0 mmol/l) and 3 (2.5%) had FPG7.0 mmol/l. Upon OGTT, among the 141 subjects with normal FPG, 6 (4.3%) were diagnosed with diabetes and 23 (16.3%) with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); the remaining 112 (79.5%) had normal glucose tolerance. Three out of four subjects with IFG had IGT. The sensitivities of fasting criteria for diagnosis of diabetes and IFG/IGT were 14.3% (95% CI, 8.0%–37.2%) and 17.1% (95% CI, 8.6%–19.8%), respectively. The specificities were 98.6% (95% CI, 97.9%–99.7%) and 99.1% (95% CI, 96.5%–100%), respectively. The kappa for diabetes diagnosis was 0.177 (95% CI, 0.018–0.507). For women with previous GDM, the sensitivity of the new criteria based upon fasting plasma glucose is unacceptably low. In addition, the two sets of criteria are not interchangeable. Therefore, we suggest full glucose tolerance diagnostic procedures in women after GDM, including assessment of post-glucose challenge values.     

Fasting blood glucose in determining the prevalence of diabetes in a large,homogeneous population of Caucasian middle-aged women

Abstract. Objectives. To determine the usefulness of a single, fasting blood glucose (FBG) value in measuring the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a large, homogeneous population. Design. Fasting blood glucose and 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) values were determined. Based on the results of the OGTT, the sensitivity and specificity of different cut-off levels of FBG for the diagnosis of diabetes were assessed. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis was performed on the data. Setting. A health screening unit at the University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden. Subjects. A total of 1843 Caucasian women without known diabetes aged 55–57 years. Results. The prevalence of previously undiagnosed diabetes was 3.9% and the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 27.9% using the WHO cut-off values for 2-h blood glucose values after an OGTT. With an FBG cut-off value of 6.7 mmol IT^?1, the sensitivity of a single FBG value was 36.6%. Reducing the cut-off value to 6.0 mmol L^?1 increased the sensitivity to 53.4%. At a cut-off level of 4.8 mmol L^?1, the sensitivity reached the high value of 85.9%, but the specificity was only 45% and the predictive value of a positive test as low as 5.9%. ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value for FBG in this population was 5.3 mmol L^?1, giving a sensitivity and specificity of 77% but a positive predictive value of only 11.9%. Conclusions. This study has shown that in a large and homogeneous Caucasian population of women aged 55–57 years with a high prevalence of IGT, a single FBG value is not useful as a screening tool for diabetes mellitus.     

The prevalence of diabetes, association with cardiovascular risk factors and implications of diagnostic criteria (ADA 1997 and WHO 1998) in a 1996 community-based population study in Hong Kong Chinese. Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Steering Committee. American Diabetes Association.

AIMS: While the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 1997 diagnostic criteria advocate the use of fasting plasma glucose only, the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria retain the use of the standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The present study evaluated the relative merit of the respective diagnostic criteria in Chinese. METHODS: Data collected for the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study was analysed. This was a representative population-based study, conducted from 1995 to 1996 among 2,900 Chinese subjects aged 25-74 years using a 75-g OGTT. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes (known plus unknown) was 6.2% (95% confidence interval 5.3-7.1%), 9.2% (8.1-10.3%), and 9.8% (8.7-10.9%) based on ADA 1997, WHO 1985 and WHO 1998 criteria, respectively, with a very high prevalence in older subjects. The 2,451 subjects classified as normal under ADA 1997 criteria were heterogenous: 15.3% had impaired glucose tolerance; 2.1% had diabetes under WHO 1998 criteria. These latter two smaller groups had cardiovascular risk profiles comparable to that found among the impaired fasting glucose subjects (under ADA), but worse than that among the concordant normal glucose tolerance subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The ADA criteria underestimate both diabetes prevalence and cardiovascular risk in this population. Hence fasting glucose alone is an inadequate approach and OGTT should be retained to identify at-risk individuals in both clinical diagnosis and epidemiological studies.     

OGTT正常、异常及糖尿病患者冠状动脉造影特征比较

目的观察口服葡萄糖耐量试验（oral glucose tolerance test,OGTT）异常对冠心病患者冠脉病变特征的影响。方法对35例糖耐量异常（IGT）及空腹血糖受损（IFG）的冠心病患者的造影结果进行分析,并分析17例OGTT正常的冠心病患者及44例确诊糖尿病患者的冠脉造影结果。结果3组患者的3支病变的构成比有显著差异（P<0.05,P<0.01）,远端小血管病变的发生率有显著差异（P<0.05,P<0.01）。结论IGT（或IFG）患者在冠脉病变特征方面与OGTT正常者存在显著差异,而与糖尿病患者存在相似病变特征。     

红细胞体积分布宽度与糖代谢异常/糖耐量异常和糖尿病相关

目的探讨红细胞体积分布宽度（RDW）与2型糖尿病（T2DM）、空腹血糖受损／葡萄糖耐量异常（IFG／IGT）的相互关系。方法对152例在我院定期进行健康体检或治疗的患者,依据血糖情况分为3组,其中T2DM组42例,IFG／IGT组38例,正常对照（NGT）组72例,采取空腹血,采用全自动血液分析仪测定RDW、血红蛋白,多功能血生化自动分析仪测定血总胆固醇、三酰甘油、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、血肌酐、血尿素氮和空腹血糖,同时统计高血压、冠心病的发病率并分析其关系。结果RDW在T2DM组、IFG／IGT组和NGT组之间比较具有统计学差异,其中T2DM组和NGT组、IFG／IGT组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）,IFG／IGT组与NGT组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。多因素直线回归分析显示空腹血糖（P〈0．01）和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（P〈0．05）是RDW的独立危险因子。结论T2DM患者RDW升高,RDW的变化与空腹血糖水平相关。     

Lessons learned from the 1‐hour post‐load glucose level during OGTT: Current screening recommendations for dysglycaemia should be revised

This perspective covers a novel area of research describing the inadequacies of current approaches for diagnosing dysglycaemia and proposes that the 1‐hour post‐load glucose level during the 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test may serve as a novel biomarker to detect dysglycaemia earlier than currently recommended screening criteria for glucose disorders. Considerable evidence suggests that a 1‐hour post‐load plasma glucose value ≥155 mg/dl (8.6 mmol/L) may identify individuals with reduced β‐cell function prior to progressing to prediabetes and diabetes and is highly predictive of those likely to progress to diabetes more than the HbA_1c or 2‐hour post‐load glucose values. An elevated 1‐hour post‐load glucose level was a better predictor of type 2 diabetes than isolated 2‐hour post‐load levels in Indian, Japanese, and Israeli and Nordic populations. Furthermore, epidemiological studies have shown that a 1‐hour PG ≥155 mg/dl (8.6 mmol/L) predicted progression to diabetes as well as increased risk for microvascular disease and mortality when the 2‐hour level was <140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/L). The risk of myocardial infarction or fatal ischemic heart disease was also greater among subjects with elevated 1‐hour glucose levels as were risks of retinopathy and peripheral vascular complications in a Swedish cohort. The authors believe that the considerable evidence base supports redefining current screening and diagnostic recommendations with the 1‐hour post‐load level. Measurement of the 1‐hour PG level would increase the likelihood of identifying a larger, high‐risk group with the additional practical advantage of potentially replacing the conventional 2‐hour oral glucose tolerance test making it more acceptable in a clinical setting.