EFFECT OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA ON GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN IN NONDIABETIC INDIVIDUALS

Introduction: Iron deciency anaemia is a globally prevalent disease, majorly affecting children and women of childbearing age. American Diabetes Association has now accepted HbA1c as the diagnostic tool for detecting diabetes. HbA1c is found to be elevated in several conditions, including iron deciency anemia. Hence, nding the correlation between glycated hemoglobin and iron deciency anemia is important. The study aimed to investigate the effect of iron deciency anaemia on glycated haemoglobin levels in non-diabetic individuals. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted among 93 non-diabetic subjects with iron deciency anaemia. All subjects who attended the Outpatient (OPD) and in-patient department (IPD) at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, were included in the study. Iron supplementation was administered for three months in those with elevated HbA1c levels and iron deciency anemia. The correlation between HbA1c and iron studies was observed after three months. Results: Among 93 patients, the majority of the patients (60) belonged to >60 years of age (47.31%). Forty-eight patients were male (51.61%), and 45 were female (48.39%). The clinical prole gathered from this geographical territory implied an increase in glycated haemoglobin was observed in non-diabetic, iron deciency individuals. On administering iron supplementation for three months, it was observed that there was a signicant reduction in HbA1c levels with an increase in serum ferritin and haemoglobin levels. Conclusion: Patients with elevated levels of HbA1c and co-existing iron deciency anemia should not be diagnosed as diabetes, unless the anemia has been corrected.