Charles Darwin University

CDU eSpace
Institutional Repository

 
CDU Staff and Student only
 

Screening for diabetes in Indigenous populations using glycated haemoglobin: sensitivity, specificity, post-test likelihood and risk of disease

O'Dea, K (2005). Screening for diabetes in Indigenous populations using glycated haemoglobin: sensitivity, specificity, post-test likelihood and risk of disease. Diabetic Medicine,22:833-839.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts:
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar

Title Screening for diabetes in Indigenous populations using glycated haemoglobin: sensitivity, specificity, post-test likelihood and risk of disease
Author O'Dea, K
Journal Name Diabetic Medicine
Publication Date 2005
Volume Number 22
ISSN 0742-3071   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 833
End Page 839
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher Blackwell Publishing
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract AIMS: Screening for diabetes using glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) offers potential advantages over fasting glucose or oral glucose tolerance testing. Current recommendations advise against the use of HbA1c for screening but test properties may vary systematically across populations, according to the diabetes prevalence and risk. We aimed to: (i) characterize the properties of test cut-offs of HbA1c for diagnosis of diabetes relative to a diagnosis based on a fasting plasma glucose concentration of 7.0 mmol/l for high-risk Indigenous populations; and (ii) examine test properties across a range of diabetes prevalence from 5 to 30%. METHODS: Data were collected from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia and a Canadian First Nations community (diabetes prevalence 12-22%) in the course of diabetes diagnostic and risk factor screening programmes (n = 431). Screening test properties were analyzed for the range of HbA1c observed (3-12.9%). RESULTS: In separate and pooled analyses, a HbA1c cut point of 7.0% proved the optimal limit for classifying diabetes, with summary analysis results of sensitivity = 73 (56-86)%, specificity = 98 (96-99)%, overall agreement (Youden's index) = 0.71, and positive predictive value (for an overall prevalence of 18%) = 88%. For diabetes prevalence from 5 to 30% the post-test likelihood of having diabetes given HbA1c = 7.0% (positive predictive value) ranged from 62.7 to 93.2%; for HbA1c < 7.0%, the post-test likelihood of having diabetes ranged from 4.5 to 27.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The results converge with research on the likelihood of diabetes complications in supporting a HbA1c cut-off of 7.0% in screening for diabetes in epidemiological research. Glycated haemoglobin has potential utility in screening for diabetes in high-risk populations.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01447.x   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Access Statistics: 189 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Fri, 12 Sep 2008, 08:35:25 CST by Administrator