Correlation between HbA1c Levels and Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Background: In recent years, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has emerged as the world's leading cause of death with the potential to develop micro vascular complications in the form of retinopathy. HbA1c is an indicator to identify hyperglycemia and plays an important role in monitoring the development of complications due to DM. This study is undertaken determine the relationship between HbA1C levels and the severity of diabetic retinopathy in DM patients.
Aim: To identify the relationship between HbA1c levels and different stages of diabetic retinopathy.
Method: An analytic observational, cross sectional design, using patients’ medical record. Patient data consisted of gender, age, DM duration, HbA1c levels, and stages of diabetic retinopathy. Non parametric correlation Spearman’s rho was chosen for statistical analysis.
Result: A total of 72 DM patients consisted of 29 men and 43 women with a mean DM duration 10.4 years. A total of 37 patients were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy with 30 NPDR respondents (41.7%) and 7 PDR respondents (9.7%). The average HbA1C levels based on the patient's diabetic retinopathy stages, as follows; normal attained 6.49% (SD ± 0.95), NPDR 8.17% (SD ± 1.77), and PDR 8.47% (SD ± 1, 10). Spearman's non-parametric test showed a strong and significant relationship (p <0.001) between HbA1c levels and the degree of diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion: There was a strong significant positive correlation between HbA1c levels and the severity of diabetic retinopathy. As the HbA1c level increased severity of the diabetic retinopathy also increased.
Key words: diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy.