A1c Fit Test: Cross-sectional analysis correlating hemoglobin A1c and fasting lipid panel with the results of the U.S. Air Force Physical Fitness Test
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes among U.S. Air Force personnel who performed the Air Force Physical Fitness Test (AFPT) Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Mike O’Callaghan Federal Medical Center, and Base Fitness Center, Nellis Air Force Base, NV Study Populations: 489 Active duty U.S. Air Force members who performed the AFPT within one month of study participation. Interventions: Brief demographic survey, Examination of AFPT results, Hemoglobin A1c and fasting lipid panel was obtained. Main Outcome Measures: 1) HbA1c levels 2) Results of AFPT 3) Fasting Lipid Levels Statistical Tests Used: Descriptive statistics for categorical and continuous variables. Unpaired Student’s t-test. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Chi-square test. Results: There is a statistically significant association between the prevalence of prediabetes or diabetes (HbAIc≥5.7) and fitness level (16.98% in Unsatisfactory, 12.12% in Satisfactory, and 6.72% in Excellent; p=0.0352) and prediabetes and diabetes was more prevalent among subjects who had an exemption for the AFPT (25.67% vs.7.23%; p<0.0001). Among known risk factors the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was higher with subjects that had an abdominal circumference >35 inches (19.78% vs 7.56%; p=0.0004), a BMI of ≥ 30 (20.0% vs 8.35%, p=0.0026), and among individuals with a 1st degree relative with diabetes (15.70% vs. 8.15%; p=0.0164). The prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was lower in subjects with HDL ≥ 40 than HDL<40 >(22.22% vs 8.40%; p=0.0073). Conclusions: Exemptions taken on the AFPT, increased abdominal circumference, and elevated BMI is strongly associated with prediabetes in this military population. HbA1c could be a screening tool for these at-risk personnel to identify diabetes in its early stages.
Subject Area
Medicine|Public health|Kinesiology|Military studies
Recommended Citation
Timboe, Andrew M, "A1c Fit Test: Cross-sectional analysis correlating hemoglobin A1c and fasting lipid panel with the results of the U.S. Air Force Physical Fitness Test" (2015). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI1602233.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI1602233