The relationship between estimated average glucose and fasting plasma glucose

Abstract

Abstract Background: Estimated average glucose (eAG) is a value calculated from hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) that reflects average glycemic status over the preceding few months. A linear relationship between HbA1c and eAG was demonstrated by the International HbA1c-Derived Average Glucose (ADAG) Trial in 2008. We investigated the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and eAG. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 6443 subjects, including 5567 diabetic patients and 876 non-diabetic subjects. The levels of HbA1c and FPG were reviewed and eAG was calculated using the regression equation published by the ADAG trial: eAGmmol/L=1.59×HbA1c(NGSP, %)–2.59[eAGmg/dL= 28.7×HbA1c(NGSP, %)−46.7]. Results: In all subjects, FPG showed a moderate correlation with eAG (r=0.672, p<0.001). When diabetic and non-diabetic subjects were divided into subgroups according to FPG level, the correlation between eAG and FPG decreased in both diabetic [FPG ≥10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL), r=0.425; FPG 7.2–9.9 mmol/L (130–179 mg/dL), r=0.373; FPG <7.2 mmol/L (130 mg/dL), r=0.202] and non-diabetic [FPG 5.6–6.9 mmol/L (100–125 mg/dL), r=0.363; FPG <5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL), r=0.186] subgroups as the FPG level decreased. The differences between eAG and FPG were statistically significant (p<0.001). Only 81% (4487/5567) of diabetic patients had a lower FPG level than eAG level. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the relationship between eAG and FPG may depend on glycemic control, thereby enhancing our understanding of eAG.