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Is glycosylated haemoglobin associated with psychosocial stress in non-diabetic 6-year-olds?

Anna Mh Price1, Talia Maayan, Melissa A Wake

  • 1Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|October 31, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) does not appear to be a reliable biomarker for psychosocial stress in healthy 6-year-olds. This suggests that any association between HbA1c and stress emerges later in childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Psychosocial Stress Research
  • Biomarker Development

Background:

  • Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is a marker for diabetic glycemic control.
  • Previous studies indicate a link between HbA1c and chronic psychosocial stress in adults.
  • The role of HbA1c as a stress biomarker in young children remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether HbA1c serves as a biomarker for psychosocial stress in healthy 6-year-old children.
  • To examine associations between HbA1c levels and various indicators of child and maternal stress.
  • To assess the influence of socioeconomic factors on HbA1c in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 326 children, initially recruited for a sleep study at 7 months, were followed up at 6 years.
  • HbA1c was measured via finger-prick, alongside simultaneous collection of psychosocial stress indicators.
  • Data included child mental health, maternal mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), life events, coping strategies, socioeconomic status, and financial stress.
  • Analyses employed linear regressions, adjusted for original randomization status and clustering.

Main Results:

  • HbA1c data was available for 134 children (60% retention), with levels ranging from 3.9% to 5.8%.
  • No significant associations were found between HbA1c and child, family, or socioeconomic variables.
  • Maternal anxiety showed a statistically significant but clinically insignificant negative association with HbA1c.

Conclusions:

  • HbA1c is not associated with psychosocial stress in healthy 6-year-olds.
  • The findings suggest that the link between HbA1c and psychosocial stress develops after early childhood.
  • HbA1c is unlikely to be a reliable biomarker for stress during early childhood or the transition to school.
Abstract

Keywords:
childglycosylatedhaemoglobin Amental healthpsychological.socioeconomic factorsstress

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