HbA1c, fasting and 2 h plasma glucose in current, ex- and never-smokers: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: The relationships between smoking and glycaemic variables have not been well explored. We compared HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2 h plasma glucose (2H-PG) in current, ex- and never-smokers.

Methods: This meta-analysis used individual data from 16,886 men and 18,539 women without known diabetes in 12 DETECT-2 consortium studies and in the French Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR) and Telecom studies. Means of three glycaemic variables in current, ex- and never-smokers were modelled by linear regression, with study as a random factor. The I (2) statistic was used to evaluate heterogeneity among studies.

Results: HbA1c was 0.10% (95% CI 0.08, 0.12) (1.1 mmol/mol [0.9, 1.3]) higher in current smokers and 0.03% (0.01, 0.05) (0.3 mmol/mol [0.1, 0.5]) higher in ex-smokers, compared with never-smokers. For FPG, there was no significant difference between current and never-smokers (-0.004 mmol/l [-0.03, 0.02]) but FPG was higher in ex-smokers (0.12 mmol/l [0.09, 0.14]). In comparison with never-smokers, 2H-PG was lower (-0.44 mmol/l [-0.52, -0.37]) in current smokers, with no difference for ex-smokers (0.02 mmol/l [-0.06, 0.09]). There was a large and unexplained heterogeneity among studies, with I (2) always above 50%; I (2) was little changed after stratification by sex and adjustment for age and BMI. In this study population, current smokers had a prevalence of diabetes that was 1.30% higher as screened by HbA1c and 0.52% lower as screened by 2H-PG, in comparison with never-smokers.

Conclusion/interpretation: Across this heterogeneous group of studies, current smokers had a higher HbA1c and lower 2H-PG than never-smokers. This will affect the chances of smokers being diagnosed with diabetes.

Fig. 1

(a) Difference in mean (95% CI) HbA_1c between current-smokers and never-smokers is 0.10 (0.08,0.12) % [1.1 (0.9,1.3) mmol/mol]; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.03 (0.01,0.05) %.[0.3 (0.1,0.5)]. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 93% and 55% respectively. (b) Difference in mean (95% CI) FPG between current-smokers and never-smokers is −0.004 (−0.06,0.02) mmol/l; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.12 (0.09,0.14) mmol/l. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 71% and 89% respectively. (c) Difference in mean (95% CI) 2H-PG (c) between current-smokers and never-smokers is −0.44 (−0.52,−0.37) mmol/l; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.02 (−0.06,0.09) mmol/l. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 88% and 62% respectively.

Fig. 1

(a) Difference in mean (95% CI) HbA_1c between current-smokers and never-smokers is 0.10 (0.08,0.12) % [1.1 (0.9,1.3) mmol/mol]; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.03 (0.01,0.05) %.[0.3 (0.1,0.5)]. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 93% and 55% respectively. (b) Difference in mean (95% CI) FPG between current-smokers and never-smokers is −0.004 (−0.06,0.02) mmol/l; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.12 (0.09,0.14) mmol/l. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 71% and 89% respectively. (c) Difference in mean (95% CI) 2H-PG (c) between current-smokers and never-smokers is −0.44 (−0.52,−0.37) mmol/l; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.02 (−0.06,0.09) mmol/l. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 88% and 62% respectively.

Fig. 1

(a) Difference in mean (95% CI) HbA_1c between current-smokers and never-smokers is 0.10 (0.08,0.12) % [1.1 (0.9,1.3) mmol/mol]; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.03 (0.01,0.05) %.[0.3 (0.1,0.5)]. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 93% and 55% respectively. (b) Difference in mean (95% CI) FPG between current-smokers and never-smokers is −0.004 (−0.06,0.02) mmol/l; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.12 (0.09,0.14) mmol/l. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 71% and 89% respectively. (c) Difference in mean (95% CI) 2H-PG (c) between current-smokers and never-smokers is −0.44 (−0.52,−0.37) mmol/l; between ex-smokers and never-smokers 0.02 (−0.06,0.09) mmol/l. The I² heterogeneity statistic was 88% and 62% respectively.