Is aging associated with increased HbA1c levels independently of glucose levels and insulin resistance?
Age should be taken into consideration when using HbA1c for the diagnosis and management of diabetes and prediabetes due to its independent association with higher HbA1c levels.
In two large datasets, using different methods to measure HbA(1c), the association of age with higher HbA(1c) levels: was consistent and similar; was both statistically and clinically significant; was unexplained by features of aging; and reduced diagnostic specificity. Age should be taken into consideration when using HbA(1c) for the diagnosis and management of diabetes and prediabetes.
Dubowitz et al. (Wed,) studied this question.