Prediabetes screening: Questionable benefits in the golden years

Irrespective of the definition and diagnostic criteria used, the term prediabetes denotes a state of dysmetabolism with a high risk of progression to diabetes mellitus. Although diabetes-related complications may already be evident among individuals with prediabetes, interventions at this stage primarily aim to hinder the development of overt hyperglycemia rather than to prevent complications. Current recommendations for prediabetes testing are common across all adult age categories. Recent evidence arising from the prospective investigation of the natural course of prediabetes among elderly individuals pose questions regarding the benefits of meticulous prediabetes screening in this age group. In view of this and due to the lack of sufficient data to concretely support a positive impact of further preventive strategies among older individuals, screening recommendations should be reevaluated to target selected elderly individuals who are most likely to benefit in terms of quality of life and prognosis. Further therapeutic measures should be tailored to the inherent features of this frail age group, in order to exert a meaningful effect on overall health status.

Establishing a blood fructosamine reference range for the Brazilian population based on data from ELSA - Brasil

Objectives

The fructosamine test is used in the monitoring of diabetes mellitus, particularly in cases with restrictions on the use of glycated hemoglobin (mainly in the setting of altered red blood cell lifespan and interference by hemoglobin variants). It could also provide additional information on shorter-term glycemic control. The objective of the study is to establish the reference range of the fructosamine in the Brazilian population.

Design and methods

The reference interval was defined as suggested by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The study participants were from a Brazilian cohort (The Longitudinal Study of Adult Health – ELSA-Brasil) with baseline data collected between 2008 and 2010. A total of 466 subjects were selected after exclusion of diabetic individuals, and those with altered glycemic markers and renal function tests.

Results

The reference interval was 186–248 μmol/L for women and 196–269 μmol/L for men. Fructosamine levels were higher in men than in women (p = 0.006) and in the non-white population (p = 0.034) and had a negative correlation with the body mass index (r = −0.117; p = 0.011).

Conclusions

The reference intervals for fructosamine were affected by sex. Reference intervals stratified by sex would be more adequate in the interpretation of the fructosamine test.

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Reference intervals for fructosamine in serum.

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The reference intervals for fructosamine were affected by sex.

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The reference intervals for fructosamine are different for different population.