Glycated hemoglobin level is strongly related to the prevalence of carotid artery plaques with high echogenicity in nondiabetic individuals: the Tromsø study.

BACKGROUND High levels of HbA1c have been associated with increased mortality and an increased risk of atherosclerosis assessed as carotid intima-media thickness or plaque prevalence. In the present population-based study, we examined the association between HbA1c and plaque prevalence with emphasis on plaque echogenicity in subjects not diagnosed with diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS HbA1c measurements and ultrasonography of the carotid artery were performed in 5960 subjects (3026 women, 2934 men) 25 to 84 years of age. Plaque morphology was categorized into 4 groups from low echogenicity (soft plaque) to strong echogenicity (hard plaque). HbA1c was categorized into 5 groups: <5.0%, 5.0% to 5.4%, 5.5% to 5.9%, 6.0% to 6.4% and >6.4%. Carotid plaque prevalence increased with increasing HbA1c level (P for linear trend=0.002). The OR for hard plaques versus no plaques was 5.8 in the highest HbA1c group (>6.4%) compared with subjects in the lowest group (<5.0%) after adjustment for several possible confounders. The risk of predominantly hard plaques was also significantly associated with HbA1c levels, although the ORs at each level were somewhat lower than for hard plaques. With respect to the risk of soft plaques versus no plaques, no statistically significant relationship with HbA1c levels was found. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic changes reflected by HbA1c levels may contribute to the development of hard carotid artery plaques, even at modestly elevated levels.