Abstract
Background
The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is standardized globally with a uniform glucose
load of 75 g to all adults irrespective of body size. An inverse association between
body height and 2-hour postload plasma glucose (2hPG) has been demonstrated. Our aim
was to evaluate the relationship between body surface area (BSA) and plasma glucose
values during an OGTT.
Methods
An OGTT was performed on 2659 individuals at increased cardiovascular risk aged between
45 and 70 years of age, who had not previously been diagnosed with diabetes or cardiovascular
disease. Their BSA was calculated according to the Mosteller formula. Study subjects
were divided into five BSA levels corresponding to 12.5, 25, 25, 25, and 12.5% of
the total distribution.
Findings
When adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, alcohol intake, current smoking,
and leisure-time physical activity, BSA level showed an inverse linear relationship
with the 2hPG in all categories of glucose tolerance (p for linearity < 0.001). Moreover,
the smaller the adjusted BSA of the study person, the higher the proportion of newly
diagnosed type 2 diabetes based on 2hPG in the OGTT.
Interpretation
Body size has a considerable impact on the findings from a standardized OGTT. Smaller
persons are more likely to be diagnosed as glucose intolerant than relatively larger
sized individuals.
Funding
This work was supported by the State Provincial Office of Western Finland, the Central
Satakunta Health Federation of Municipalities, Satakunta Hospital District, and the
Hospital District of Southwest Finland.
Research in context
Evidence before this study. We searched PubMed using the MeSH terms “glucose tolerance test”, “body surface area”,
“body height”, “body size”, “glucose tolerance”, “insulin resistance”, “blood glucose”
and “diabetes mellitus” on March 10, 2019 without language restrictions. We also used
Cited Reference Search in Web of Science for relevant articles. The oral glucose tolerance
test (OGTT) is standardized globally with a uniform glucose load of 75 g to all adults
irrespective of body size. An inverse association between body height and 2-hour postload
plasma glucose (2hPG) has been demonstrated. Several studies have shown that 2hPG
predicts all-cause mortality better than elevated fasting glucose. However, body height
or body surface area are not usually adjusted in epidemiological studies. It is well
known that short adult stature is a risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
Added value of this study. This is the first study to assess the relationship of body surface area and 2hPG
in a typical primary care population at increased cardiovascular risk. Body surface
area has a considerable impact on the result of a standardized OGTT. Smaller individuals
are more likely to be diagnosed as glucose intolerant than relatively larger sized
individuals.
Implications of all the available evidence. There is a possibility that the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes made by an OGTT is a
false positive result in a relatively small individual, and a false negative result
in a relatively larger individual. Association of 2hPG concentrations and mortality
may be influenced by body size as confounding factor. Given that the OGTT is a time
and effort consuming test both for patients and laboratory personnel, validity of
the OGTT for different body sizes should be reconsidered.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 14, 2019
Accepted:
October 10,
2019
Received in revised form:
September 12,
2019
Received:
July 31,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
