Correlation between glycated haemoglobin and random plasma glucose levels for the screening of diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

To find out a correlation between Glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] and random plasma glucose levels for the screening of diabetes mellitus. Analytical cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Army Medical College, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, from January 2010 to April 2010. Three hundred and fifteen patients were included in the study. HbA1c was estimated using Ion Exchange Resin separation kit of Globe Diagnostics, as per guidelines. The Plasma samples received were analyzed on fully automated chemical pathology analyzer Selectra E for random glucose estimation by Glucose Oxidase method. The gender distribution and the relationship of age with HbA1c and random plasma glucose levels were also determined. The results were interpreted using Statistical Package for The Social Sciences [SPSS] version 17. There was a direct correlation between glycated hemoglobin and random plasma glucose levels while there was no correlation between age of the patients and the HbA1c or the age and the random plasma glucose levels. We also found that for every 1% rise in HbA1c, plasma glucose level rose by 2.3mmol/L. Glycated haemoglobin can be used as a reliable, feasible and fairly accurate tool for screening of diabetes mellitus