INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF IRON DEFICIENCY ON HEMOGLOBIN A1C LEVELS AMONG NON-DIABETIC ADULT FEMALE

Abstract

Objective: HbA1c shows the diabetic control of previous 3 months but its levels are affected by iron deficiency anemia. We performed our study in woman of child bearing age group that are mostly iron deficient and endeavor to examine effect of different categories of iron deficiency anemia on HbA1c levels.
Material and Method: Three hundred and thirty non-diabetic, anemic female subjects were recruited from the Pathology departments of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur and Sheikh Zyed Hospital Rahimyar Khan who visited department for their annual fitness. 120 subjects who fulfilled inclusion criteria were compared with age
matched female for hemoglobin, ferritin, fasting and postprandial glucose levels and HbA1c measurement. The data of 100 females was then divided on the basis of Hb level into mild, moderate and severe anemia (HbA, HbB and HbC). The Pearson correlation was analyzed between three categories of anemia and their HbA1c levels.
Results: The Hb levels among the IDA patients were significantly low (9.9±5.4 g/dl) as compared to control group. The mean HbA1c (7.4 ± 0.43%) level in iron deficient females was higher than that in the control. Statistical analysis provided significant negative association between HbB and HbA1cB measurements (r= -0.79) while strong negative relationship existed as degree of anemia became severe (r=-0.86)
Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia may raise HbA1c results upward depending on degree of anemia. So, iron status of female of reproductive age group should be improved before using HbA1c results for diagnosis of diabetes and monitoring of its long-term complication.
Keywords: Female, Iron deficiency anemia, Hemoglobin A1c