The Role of Glycated Hemoglobin A1c in Determining the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Subjects in Karachi

Hemoglobin A1c and Angiographic Severity with Coronary Artery Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Many studies have shown that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). HbA1c was independently related to angiographic severity in Chinese patients with CAD after adjusting for other covariates. Some traditional cardiovascular drugs may have an impact on this relationship.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled a total of 572 CAD patients who underwent their coronary angiography and had their HbA1c levels measured at the Chinese Hospital. The complexity of the coronary artery lesions was evaluated using the Syntax score, and the subjects were divided into 4 inter quartiles according to HbA1c levels. Covariates included history of traditional cardiovascular drugs.

Results

The average age of selected participants was 61.00 ± 9.15 years old, and about 54.72% of them were male. Result of fully adjusted linear regression showed that HbA1c was positively associated with Syntax score after adjusting confounders (β = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.27, 1.91, P = 0.0096). By interaction and stratified analyses, the interactions were observed based on our specification including with the medication history of statins and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (P values for interaction <0.05).

Conclusion

In this study, we found a positive correlation between the HbA1c levels and the SYNTAX score among CAD individuals, and oral statins and ARBs medication could affect the correlation. Thus, HbA1c measurement could be used for the evaluation of the severity and complexity of coronary lesions among CAD patients.

Association of Telomere Length and Serum Vitamin D Levels with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its Related Complications: A Possible Future Perspective

Evidence show that shortened telomere length (TL) and low Vitamin D levels can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated complications. T2DM has been considered as an age-related disease, it may be associated with TL. The study aimed to evaluate the association of TL and Vitamin D levels with complications of T2DM and the impact of Vitamin D on TL in patients with T2DM. This 1-year cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital on 90 patients. Height, weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio was calculated. Fasting blood sugars, postprandial blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed. Absolute TL was obtained from quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Vitamin D estimation was done by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Descriptive analysis of the data was done using R i386 3.6.3. The study found a positive correlation between TL and Vitamin D levels (r = 0.64; P < 0.0001). The interaction with high HbA1c levels and lower levels of Vitamin D led to the shortening of TL (P = 0.0001). The median of TL and mean of Vitamin D levels were significantly less in the diabetic group (P < 0.0001). Vitamin D levels positively affected the TL and its levels had an inverse relation with the HbA1c levels. This association had a significant effect on the shortening of TL. Vitamin D also had a significant association with other diabetic complications that instigated the shortening of TL. Therefore, assessing the role of Vitamin D levels on the shortening of TL can prove to be crucial biomarkers in managing optimal glycemic levels in T2DM patients.