HbA1c level in iron deficiency anemia in non-diabetics – A case control study

Background: The study was conducted to study the HbA1c levels in cases of iron deficiency anemia and compare with controls as well as to HbA1c level in mild, moderate, and severe iron deficiency anemia. Methodology: This was a case control observational study on non-diabetic subjects diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia presenting at Department of Medicine, Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal during the study period of June 2022 to January 2024. Age and sex matched nondiabetic controls without iron deficiency anemia were selected in control group. Medical History was obtained, and examination was done. A record of baseline investigation was made, and clinical parameters were documented. Results: This study was conducted on a total of 82 cases with iron deficiency anemia and 82 age and sex matched controls. Mean HbA1C level was higher in Cases (5.50) compared to Controls (4.99) (p<0.05). We found that severity of anemia also correlated with increased HbA1c level (p<0.05) (Table 3). Patients with higher HbA1c levels (5.7 – 6.0) have low serum ferritin (5.72±1.24) and low Hb levels (5.9±0.3) (p<0.05). Conclusions: According to the finding of study those with IDA had higher HbA1c compared to controls that were non anemic. It was also found in the study that as severity of anemia increases, the level of HbA1c also increase. Increased HbA1c level IDA may be due to change in quaternary structure of Hb or due to relatively decreased HbA1c levels in anemics. These findings underscore the importance of diagnosis of IDA to prevent over diagnosis of diabetes and pre-diabetics.