Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant global health challenge, with an increasing burden in developing countries. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical for timely intervention. The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) are two widely used diagnostic tools. While OGTT is considered the gold standard, HbA1c offers a more convenient, non- fasting alternative. Objectives: To study the specificity and sensitivity of HbA1C & OGTTand compare the results of HbA1c & OGTTperformed on the same subjects as an effective tool for the diagnosis of Diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center, enrolling 75 patients at high risk of diabetes based on clinical criteria. Blood samples were collected to perform OGTT and HbA1c tests. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of HbA1c were compared to OGTT. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Results: OGTT demonstrated higher sensitivity (94.2%) and diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.902) compared to HbA1c (sensitivity = 89.86%, AUC = 0.770). While HbA1c was useful for long-term glycemic monitoring, it showed lower sensitivity in detecting postprandial hyperglycemia. Discrepancies between OGTT and HbA1c results were observed, suggesting that HbA1c alone may not be sufficient for early diagnosis, particularly in borderline cases. Conclusion: OGTT remains the superior diagnostic tool for diabetes detection due to its higher sensitivity. However, a combined approach incorporating both OGTT and HbA1c may enhance early detection and improve diabetes management. Routine screening with OGTT should be considered in high-risk individuals, especially those with borderline HbA1c values. Further studies with larger cohorts and longitudinal follow-ups are recommended to validate these findings.
Shekhawat et al. (Fri,) studied this question.