Anthropometry did not approach adequate predictive accuracies for detecting elevated fasting plasma glucose or hemoglobin A1c levels among Chinese children aged 7–9 years

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Elevated concentrations of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are well‐established independent risk factors for progression to diabetes, cardiovascular comorbidities and mortality. Most previous studies on the relationships of anthropometric measures with hyperglycemia were carried out among adults and adolescents, but few data are available for the performance predication of the predictors for diagnosing elevated FPG or HbA1c among young children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Involving 5,556 students of aged 7–9 years, a school‐based cross‐sectional survey was carried out between March and June 2019 in Shenzhen, China. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was utilized. RESULTS: The median was 4.6 (interquartile range [IQR] 4.3–4.8) mmol/L for FPG and 5.3% (IQR 5.1–5.5%) for HbA1c levels for all participants. For detecting elevated FPG, weight (0.651, IQR 0.583–0.719) and waist circumference (0.650, IQR 0.584–0.717) showed the highest area under the curve and 95% confidence interval, followed by body mass index and the z‐score of body mass index (both 0.635, IQR 0.567–0.703); other anthropometric measures showed poorer diagnostic efficiencies or no ability. For detecting elevated HbA1c, lower efficiencies for the Conicity Index (0.651, IQR 0.583–0.719), waist‐to‐height ratio, waist‐to‐hip ratio and waist‐to‐chest ratio were shown. The correlations of FPG and HbA1c levels with anthropometric indices were weak (Spearman’s r ≤ 0.179). CONCLUSIONS: None of the evaluated anthropometric indicators approached an adequate predictive accuracy for the detection of elevated FPG or HbA1c levels in Shenzhen children aged 7–9 years. The current study did not recommend anthropometry screening for prediabetes in young children.