Abstract:
Objective To explore the correlation between the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS), and provide a reference basis for the prevention and control of CAS.
Methods Adults who underwent physical examinations at the Health Management Center of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 2020 to December 2024 were selected as study participants. Baseline data, physical examination, laboratory indicators and carotid ultrasound examination results were collected. Participants were divided into carotid atherosclerosis group and no carotid atherosclerosis group based on carotid ultrasound examination results. Baseline data and laboratory indicators between the two groups were compared. HGI was calculated based on HbA1c and FPG, and the HGI was categorized according to terciles (T1, T2, T3), with T1 as the reference. A total of 2 182 subjects were included in the analysis, with an average age of (52.29±10.11) years old, and males accounted for 88.7%. Logistic regression model combined with restricted cubic spline model were recruited to explore the relationship between HGI and CAS.
Resultss The CAS group showed a higher level of HGI than the non-CAS group (P<0.001). Group T3 exhibited more pronounced metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory levels, including a higher percentage of hypertension, diabetes, a higher level of white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, and HbA1c concentration. Participants in the highest tertile of HGI had the largest percentage of people with CAS (T1 37.8% vs T2 39.6% vs T3 53.6%, χ2=44.421, P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of CAS in the HGI T3 group was 1.494 times higher than that in the T1 group (OR = 1.525, 95%CI: 1.213 to 1.916, P<0.001). Restricted cubic spline model results showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship belween HGI and the risk of CAS in total population ( P for overall<0.001. P for nonlinear = 0.025). Gender stratification analysis showed that a nonlinear dose-response relationship between HGI and the risk of CAS both in females and males ( females: P for overall = 0.002, P for nonlinear = 0.001; males: P for overall<0.001, P for nonlinear = 0.001).
Conclusion HGI is independently associated with CAS and exhibits a nonlinear dose-response relationship.