Key clinical point: Increased mean glycated hemoglobin (A1c) level and A1c variability were associated with a significantly higher risk for diabetes-related complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Major finding: Elevated mean A1c level was associated with a significantly higher risk for urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] of >300 mg/g (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.308; P < .001), any retinopathy (aHR 1.274; P < .001), and advanced retinopathy (aHR 1.237; P = .036); similarly, increased standard deviation of A1c was associated with an increased risk for UACR of >300 mg/g (aHR 1.478; P < .001), doubling of serum creatinine (aHR 2.133; P < .001), and all-cause (aHR 1.880; P < .001) and cardiovascular (aHR 1.431; P = .016) mortality.
Study details: Findings are from a prospective study including 1869 patients with T2D who were followed-up for a median of 9.5 years.
Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Wu TE et al. Mean HbA1c and HbA1c variability are associated with differing diabetes-related complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2022 (Sep 2). Doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.110069