Fibrinogen concentration correlates with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients and elevated fibrinogen concentration has been described as an important risk factor. Objective: to determine the plasma concentration of fibrinogen and its association with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with DM2. Materials and methods: An observational, non-experimental, correlational, cross-sectional, cross-sectional research was conducted between November 2023 and August 2024. We selected 120 participants of both sexes diagnosed with DM2 who attended the Internal Medicine office of the Hospital Provincial General Docente Riobamba, Ecuador (90 patients with DM2 and 30 controls). Subjects with a diagnosis of DM2 were divided into three groups according to their HbA1c levels: group 1 (HbA 1c <6.5 %), group 2 (≥ 6.5% <10.0 %), and group 3 (HbA1c ≥ 10.0 %). Blood glucose levels, lipid profile, and plasma fibrinogen were evaluated. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between subjects with DM2 and controls regarding age, BMI, serum glucose concentration, and triacylglycerides (p<0.05). Patients with DM2 showed higher mean plasma levels of fibrinogen than controls (P<0.001). A significant positive correlation was observed between fibrinogen and HbA1c (r=0.8380, P<0.0001). Conclusion: The correlation observed between fibrinogen concentration and HbA1c levels in the subjects with DM2 evaluated in this investigation, together with the increase in triacylglyceride concentration, supports the value of these markers for the early prediction of the main complications observed in diabetes, such as vascular dysfunction, the development of atherosclerosis and consequent cardiovascular damage.