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Study summary · Metabolic health, glucose & body composition

Does glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration predict death from cardiovascular and all causes in men?

In one paragraph

HbA1c Home Kit, studied in 4662 men (BMJ 2001, PMID 11141143) — while 18% of the population excess mortality risk associated with HbA1c >=5% occurred in men with diabetes, 82% occurred in men with concentrations of 5%-6.9%. Preventive strategies should consider not only individuals with established diabetes but also the potential to reduce the population distribution of HbA1c through behavioral interventions.

Source: BMJ 2001, PMID 11141143 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: medium

BMJ · 2001 · PMID 11141143 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.322.7277.15

Plain-English summary written and published by Magellan Longevity · medical review by Gabriel Radu, DO (physiatrist, NPI 1376861765). We summarize what the paper reported — we did not run this study.

The takeaway

Higher HbA1c levels are continuously linked to increased mortality risk in men, even in those without diagnosed diabetes, suggesting a need for broader preventive efforts.

The question

Does glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration predict death from cardiovascular and all causes in men?

What they tested

The study aims to examine the value of HbA1c as a predictor of mortality.

How they did it

This was a prospective population study conducted within the Norfolk cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Norfolk). It included 4662 men aged 45-79 years who had baseline HbA1c measurements between 1995-1997 and were followed up until December 1999. Mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, and other causes was assessed.

What they found

Men with known diabetes had increased mortality from all causes (relative risk 2.2), cardiovascular disease (relative risk 3.3), and ischaemic disease (relative risk 4.2) compared to men without known diabetes. This increased risk in diabetic men was largely explained by HbA1c concentration. HbA1c was continuously related to subsequent all-cause, cardiovascular, and ischaemic heart disease mortality across the entire population, with the lowest rates observed in those with HbA1c concentrations below 5%. A 1% increase in HbA1c was associated with a 28% increase in the risk of death, independent of other risk factors. Even after excluding men with known diabetes, HbA1c >=7%, or a history of myocardial infarction or stroke, this effect remained (relative risk 1.46). While 18% of the population excess mortality risk associated with HbA1c >=5% occurred in men with diabetes, 82% occurred in men with concentrations of 5%-6.9%.

Relative Risk of Mortality in Men with Known Diabetes vs. No Known Diabetes

Values shown: Relative Risk

All Causes		2.2
Cardiovascular Disease		3.3
Ischaemic Heart Disease		4.2

Men with known diabetes showed significantly higher relative risks of mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and ischaemic heart disease compared to men without known diabetes.

What it means

Glycated haemoglobin concentration appears to explain most of the excess mortality risk associated with diabetes in men and acts as a continuous risk factor across the entire population distribution. Preventive strategies should consider not only individuals with established diabetes but also the potential to reduce the population distribution of HbA1c through behavioral interventions.

Limitations

The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study.

Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.

“increase of 1% in HbA1c was associated with a 28% increase in risk of death”— from the published abstract, BMJ 2001

The paper at a glance

Title	Glycated haemoglobin, diabetes, and mortality in men in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort
Journal	BMJ
Year	2001
PMID	11141143 ↗
DOI	10.1136/bmj.322.7277.15 ↗
Topic	Metabolic health, glucose & body composition

Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗

Where Magellan uses this paper

This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

HbA1c Home Kit

Higher HbA1c raises all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Research relevant to this mechanism is indexed on PubMed and linked below; it describes the mechanism rather than this specific product.

Molecules & mechanisms in this paper

Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.

HbA1c

Cite this page

These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.

APA

Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration predict death from cardiovascular and all causes in men? [Plain-English summary of BMJ 2001, PMID 11141143, DOI 10.1136/bmj.322.7277.15]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d11141143.html

BibTeX

@misc{magellan_d11141143,
  title        = {Does glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration predict death from cardiovascular and all causes in men?},
  author       = {{Magellan Longevity}},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d11141143.html}},
  note         = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 11141143; DOI 10.1136/bmj.322.7277.15; BMJ 2001. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
  urldate      = {2026-08-11}
}

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How this summary was made. Every section above restates what the published abstract of PMID 11141143 reports — the question, the design, the numbers, the authors’ own conclusion and their stated limitations. We do not add claims the paper did not make, and we keep negative and no-effect findings in. Magellan’s evidence grades are set from research like this and never from affiliate commissions.

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