Investigating the impact of glycated hemoglobin levels on stroke severity in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Stroke is a sudden neurological decline caused by cerebrovascular diseases or impaired blood circulation. Research investigating the connection between glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and stroke severity is limited. This study examined the connection between HbA1c levels and stroke severity in patients with acute ischemic stroke. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the medical records of 1103 patients with acute ischemic stroke from January 2020 to January 2024 was conducted. Patients were divided into seven groups on the basis of their HbA1c levels. Stroke severity within these groups was assessed via the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), with the aim of identifying correlations between stroke severity and glycemic status. This study examined the impact of various HbA1c levels on a range of demographic and clinical characteristics in stroke patients. The patients were grouped into seven categories on the basis of their HbA1c levels, and characteristics such as age; body mass index (BMI); LDL, HDL, and creatinine levels; and NIHSS scores at hospital admission were compared across these groups. Significant differences were observed in age, LDL levels (F = 3.999, P < 0.001), and creatinine levels (F = 1.303, P = 0.253) among the HbA1c categories. However, there were no significant differences in BMI, HDL levels, or length of hospital stay. A positive correlation was found between HbA1c levels and NIHSS scores, indicating that higher HbA1c levels are associated with greater stroke severity. This study revealed that the risk of severe stroke increases significantly when HbA1c levels exceed 6.5%. In contrast, maintaining HbA1c levels below 6.5% is linked to a reduced risk of severe stroke and lower mortality. Additionally, older adults are at greater risk and tend to experience more severe strokes.