Glycated albuminandHbA1cas markers of lower extremity disease inUS adults with and without diabetes

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult participants aged ≥40 years who attended the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES) 1999-2004 (unweighted N=5,785). We used logistic regression to evaluate the associations of HbA1c and glycated albumin with lower extremity disease: peripheral neuropathy (assessed by monofilament test), peripheral artery disease (assessed by ankle-brachial index), history of foot ulcer, or amputation. All analyses were weighted and accounted for the complex NHANES sample survey design.

Results: The prevalence of lower extremity disease was 17.4% (15.9% in adults without diabetes and 33.2% in adults with diabetes). HbA1c and glycated albumin were not significantly associated with lower extremity disease in adults without diabetes. However, we observed significant associations of both HbA1c (OR 1.19 per 1-% point increase, 95%CI 1.06-1.34) and glycated albumin (OR 1.06 per 1-% point increase, 95%CI 1.02-1.10) with lower extremity disease in adults with diabetes after adjustment. The patterns of association were similar for HbA1c and glycated albumin (P-for-seemingly-unrelated-regression=0.60), with strong linear associations observed at high (diabetic) levels of both biomarkers.

Conclusions: Our study suggests the importance of diabetes prevention and glycemic control in adults with diabetes to reduce the burden of lower extremity disease.

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