Is HbA1c an ideal biomarker of well-controlled diabetes?
review · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32913038.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138756 and PMC identifier 10016911.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
HbA1c is a biomarker with a central role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with diabetes, although not a perfect one. Common comorbidities encountered in patients with diabetes mellitus, such as renal insufficiency, high output states (iron deficiency anaemia, haemolytic anaemia, haemoglobinopathies and pregnancy) and intake of specific drugs could compromise the sensitivity and specificity of the biomarker. COVID-19 pandemic poses a pressing challenge for the diabetic population, since maintaining optimal blood glucose control is key to reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Alternative methods for diabetes management, such as fructosamine, glycosylated albumin and device-based continuous glucose monitoring, are discussed.
Medical subject headings
- COVID-19
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- Glycated Hemoglobin