Association Between Haemoglobin Levels and HbA1c in  Diabetic Patients: Insights from a Tertiary Care Hospital  in Lahore

Rukhsana Tumrani; Sundas Waheed Waheed; Mehvish Sana; Haniah Ahmad; Afsheen Nigar; Amber Rahim

doi:10.46663/ajsmu.v10i2.59-63

Rukhsana Tumrani Assistant Professor Department of Chemical Pathology, Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
Sundas Waheed Waheed Medical Laboratory Technologist, Shalamar Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Mehvish Sana Assistant Professor Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology Children Hospital, Multan, Pakistan
Haniah Ahmad Assistant Professor & Pathologist, Department of Pathology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Afsheen Nigar Senior demonstrator, Department of Pathology Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore,
Amber Rahim Post Graduate Resident, Department of Chemical Pathology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46663/ajsmu.v10i2.59-63

Keywords: Hemoglobin; Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlation between haemoglobin and HbA1c level in diabetic patients in Lahore
Methodology: Cross sectional study conducted in Pathology Department, Shalamar Hospital, Lahore from
July to November 2023. Participants above 14 years of age, of all genders having both haemoglobin and
HbA1c level analyzed, were included in this study. Patients below 14 years of age, those with history of
haemoglobinopathies, acute or chronic blood loss, acute and chronic renal failure, alcoholism, and pregnant
females were excluded. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The inferential statistics were
used to correlate the significance of Haemoglobin and HbA1c.
Results: Of the total 312 study subjects, the mean age was 48.14±13.42 years, with 154(49%) males and
158(51%) females. Mean Hb level in males was 14.17±2.02g/dl while in females, mean haemoglobin level
was 12.73±1.50g/dl with statistically significant difference of mean Hb level with respect to gender (p value
<0.001). Mean HbA1c level in males was 9.09±2.12%. While in females mean HbA1c level was 8.60±2.21%
with statistically significant difference of mean HbA1c % with respect to gender (P value 0.047). Positive
correlation has been found between haemoglobin and HbA1c levels in diabetic patients in this study.
Conclusion: Significant positive correlation has been found between haemoglobin and HbA1c levels among
female diabetic patients. The effect of low haemoglobin should be kept in mind while evaluating the HbA1c
results in diabetic patients to monitor glycemic status, as misinterpretation leads to mismanagement of diabetic
patients.
Key Words: Diabetes mellitus, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), haemoglobin