Fig. 1Participants disposition to be included in this study. KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Table 1Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Korean Population, Aged 19 Years and Older, in 2011 to 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Characteristic |
Value |
Number |
7,116 |
Age, yr |
44 (19–92) |
Female sex, % |
56.1 |
White blood cell counts, /µL |
5,790 (4,000–10,000) |
College graduation, % |
35.5 |
Heavy alcohol drinking, %a
|
6.1 |
Regular exercise, %b
|
7.0 |
Current smoking, % |
21.7 |
Waist circumference, cm |
79.9±0.1 |
Body mass indexc, kg/m2
|
23.4±0.1 |
Obesity, % |
28.0 |
Systolic blood pressure, mm Hgd
|
116.0±0.2 |
Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hge
|
75.7±0.1 |
Hypertension, % |
13.7 |
Serum total cholesterol, mg/dL |
191.8±0.4 |
Serum triglyceride, mg/dL |
103.0 (17–2,327) |
Serum HDL-C, mg/dL |
53.3±0.1 |
Fasting plasma glucose, mg/dLf
|
94.1±0.2 |
HbA1c, % |
5.6±0.1 |
HbA1c, mmol/mol |
37.6±0.1 |
100≤ FPG ≤125 mg/dL, % |
17.9 |
Diabetes, % |
4.5 |
HbA1c (≥5.7%), % |
35.2 |
HbA1c (≥6.1%), % |
9.7 |
HbA1c (≥6.5%), % |
3.6 |
Hemoglobin, g/dLg
|
14.0 (6.5–19.6) |
Anemia, % |
7.1 |
eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2
|
97.8±0.2 |
Table 2Age, Sex, and Age- and Sex-Adjusted Demographic and Clinical Characteristics According to the Quartile of WBC Level
Characteristic |
Quartile 1 |
Quartile 2 |
Quartile 3 |
Quartile 4 |
P value |
WBC counts, /µL |
4,000–4,990 |
4,991–5,790 |
5,791–6,780 |
6,781–10,000 |
|
Number |
1,795 |
1,765 |
1,777 |
1,779 |
|
Age, yr |
46.4±0.4 |
46.0±0.4 |
45.0±0.4 |
43.9±0.4 |
<0.001 |
Female sex, % |
69.0 |
58.4 |
53.3 |
43.7 |
<0.001 |
College graduation, % |
35.4±1.1 |
39.0±1.1 |
35.0±1.1 |
32.8±1.1 |
0.001 |
Heavy alcohol drinking, %a
|
6.0±0.6 |
5.6±0.6 |
6.3±0.6 |
6.7±0.6 |
0.562 |
Regular exercise, %b
|
7.8±0.6 |
6.9±0.6 |
7.3±0.6 |
5.8±0.6 |
0.145 |
Current smoking, % |
15.2±0.9 |
18.1±0.9 |
22.0±0.9 |
31.8±0.9 |
<0.001 |
Waist circumference, cm |
78.2±0.2 |
79.3±0.2 |
80.6±0.2 |
81.6±0.2 |
<0.001 |
Body mass indexc, kg/m2
|
22.8±0.1 |
23.2±0.1 |
23.6±0.1 |
23.9±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Obesity, % |
23.0±1.1 |
24.2±1.1 |
30.0±1.1 |
34.8±1.1 |
<0.001 |
Systolic BP, mm Hgd
|
114.8±0.3 |
115.5±0.3 |
116.7±0.3 |
117.1±0.3 |
<0.001 |
Diastolic BP, mm Hge
|
75.0±0.2 |
75.4±0.2 |
76.2±0.2 |
76.2±0.2 |
<0.001 |
Hypertension, % |
10.9±0.8 |
13.1±0.8 |
14.1±0.8 |
16.9±0.8 |
<0.001 |
Total cholesterol, mg/dL |
186.5±0.8 |
189.7±0.8 |
193.9±0.8 |
197.1±0.8 |
<0.001 |
Triglyceride, mg/dL |
107.7±2.5 |
118.3±2.5 |
133.6±2.5 |
155.5±2.5 |
<0.001 |
HDL-C, mg/dL |
54.9±0.3 |
53.5±0.3 |
52.8±0.3 |
52.0±0.3 |
<0.001 |
FPG, mg/dLf
|
92.5±0.4 |
93.5±0.4 |
94.5±0.4 |
95.8±0.4 |
<0.001 |
HbA1c, % |
5.5±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
5.7±0.1 |
<0.001 |
HbA1c, mmol/mol |
36.7±0.1 |
37.4±0.1 |
37.8±0.1 |
38.7±0.1 |
<0.001 |
100≤ FPG ≤125 mg/dL, % |
15.0±0.9 |
17.6±0.9 |
18.7±0.9 |
20.3±0.9 |
<0.001 |
Diabetes, % |
2.6±0.5 |
3.2±0.5 |
5.6±0.5 |
6.4±0.5 |
<0.001 |
Hemoglobin, g/dLg
|
13.9±0.1 |
14.0±0.1 |
14.2±0.1 |
14.3±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Anemia, % |
9.5±0.6 |
7.6±0.6 |
5.6±0.6 |
5.7±0.6 |
<0.001 |
eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2
|
97.9±0.3 |
98.0±0.3 |
97.3±0.3 |
98.2±0.3 |
0.099 |
Table 3Hemoglobin A1c (%) According to the Quartile of WBC Level
|
Quartile 1 |
Quartile 2 |
Quartile 3 |
Quartile 4 |
P value |
WBC counts, /µL |
4,000–4,990 |
4,991–5,790 |
5,791–6,780 |
6,781–10,000 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
1,795 |
1,765 |
1,777 |
1,779 |
|
Model 1a
|
5.5 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
5.7 |
<0.001 |
Model 2b
|
5.6±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
5.7±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Model 3c
|
5.6±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
5.7±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Model 4d
|
5.5±0.1 |
5.5±0.1 |
5.5±0.1 |
5.6±0.1 |
<0.001 |
FPG <100 mg/dL |
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
1,499 |
1,410 |
1,387 |
1,343 |
|
Model 1a
|
5.4 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
<0.001 |
Model 2b
|
5.4±0.1 |
5.5±0.1 |
5.5±0.01 |
5.5±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Model 3c
|
5.4±0.1 |
5.5±0.1 |
5.5±0.01 |
5.5±0.1 |
<0.001 |
100≤ FPG <126 mg/dL |
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
262 |
313 |
332 |
365 |
|
Model 1a
|
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.9 |
5.9 |
0.061 |
Model 2b
|
5.8±0.1 |
5.8±0.1 |
5.9±0.1 |
5.9±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Model 3c
|
5.8±0.1 |
5.8±0.1 |
5.9±0.1 |
5.9±0.1 |
0.002 |
FPG ≥126 mg/dL |
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
34 |
41 |
58 |
71 |
|
Model 1a
|
7.4 |
7.7 |
7.6 |
8.0 |
0.403 |
Model 2b
|
7.5±0.1 |
7.7±0.2 |
7.8±0.1 |
7.8±0.1 |
0.650 |
Model 3c
|
7.5±0.1 |
7.7±0.2 |
7.8±0.1 |
7.8±0.1 |
0.639 |
Table 4The Proportions of HbA1c ≥5.7%, ≥6.1%, and ≥6.5% (%) According to the Quartile of WBC Level
|
Quartile 1 |
Quartile 2 |
Quartile 3 |
Quartile 4 |
P value |
WBC counts, /µL |
4,000–4,990 |
4,991–5,790 |
5,791–6,780 |
6,781–10,000 |
|
Number |
1,795 |
1,765 |
1,777 |
1,779 |
|
HbA1c (≥5.7%), % |
|
|
|
|
|
Model 1a
|
29.7 |
33.6 |
36.9 |
40.6 |
<0.001 |
Model 2b
|
29.7±1.0 |
33.4±1.0 |
37.0±1.0 |
40.7±1.0 |
<0.001 |
Model 3c
|
30.9±1.0 |
34.1±1.0 |
36.6±1.0 |
39.3±1.0 |
<0.001 |
Model 4d
|
29.0±1.0 |
32.1±1.0 |
34.8±1.0 |
37.9±1.0 |
<0.001 |
HbA1c (≥6.1%), % |
|
|
|
|
|
Model 1a
|
6.9 |
9.1 |
10.5 |
12.4 |
<0.001 |
Model 2b
|
7.6±0.6 |
9.3±0.6 |
10.3±0.6 |
11.6±0.6 |
<0.001 |
Model 3c
|
7.9±0.6 |
9.4±0.6 |
10.3±0.6 |
11.2±0.6 |
0.002 |
Model 4d
|
5.7±0.6 |
7.1±0.6 |
8.0±0.6 |
8.9±0.6 |
0.001 |
HbA1c (≥6.5%), % |
|
|
|
|
|
Model 1a
|
2.1 |
2.6 |
4.3 |
5.2 |
<0.001 |
Model 2b
|
3.1±0.4 |
2.9±0.4 |
4.1±0.3 |
4.2±0.4 |
0.014 |
Model 3c
|
3.1±0.4 |
2.9±0.4 |
4.1±0.4 |
4.1±0.4 |
0.022 |
Model 4d
|
1.1±0.3 |
1.2±0.3 |
1.9±0.3 |
2.0±0.3 |
0.045 |
Table 5ORs of White Blood Cell Quartiles for the Risks of HbA1c Levels of ≥5.7%, ≥6.1%, and ≥6.5%
|
HbA1c ≥5.7% |
HbA1c ≥6.1% |
HbA1c ≥6.5% |
OR (95% CI) |
P value |
OR (95% CI) |
P value |
OR (95% CI) |
P value |
Q1 |
Reference |
|
Reference |
|
Reference |
|
Q2 |
1.20 (1.02–1.42) |
0.028 |
1.29 (0.95–1.75) |
0.109 |
0.85 (0.45–1.63) |
0.632 |
Q3 |
1.37 (1.16–1.62) |
<0.001 |
1.48 (1.09–2.01) |
0.012 |
1.79 (1.01–3.18) |
0.048 |
Q4 |
1.59 (1.35–1.89) |
<0.001 |
1.78 (1.31–2.42) |
<0.001 |
2.03 (1.13–3.64) |
0.018 |