Sociodemographic factors associated with HbA1c variability in type 2 diabetes: a prospective exploratory cohort study

• Published in: BMC endocrine disorders Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 1 - 102
• Main Authors: Mellergård, Emelia, Johnsson, Per, Eek, Frida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 08.07.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Age; Analysis; BMI; Clinical Medicine; Cohort analysis; Diabetes; Diabetes management; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes therapy; Divorce; EDTA; Education; Endocrinology and Diabetes; Endokrinologi och diabetes; Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi; Glucose; Glycemic control; Glycosylated hemoglobin; HbA1c variability; Health Sciences; Hemoglobin; Hälsovetenskap; Insulin; Klinisk medicin; Laboratories; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mortality; Obesity; Participation; Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology; Questionnaires; Secondary schools; Sex differences; Sociodemographic factors; Sociodemographics; Studies; Type 2 Diabetes; Variability; Variables; Variance analysis
• DOI: 10.1186/s12902-020-00585-6
• ISSN: 1472-6823

Abstract Background The associations between sociodemographic factors and HbA1c variability in type 2 diabetes are not yet established. Examining group differences in HbA1c variability may help identify patient characteristics related to diabetes management. The present study examined differences in baseline HbA1c and HbA1c variability between groups with regard to sex, level of education, civil status, age, and BMI, in a sample of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods The study was a prospective exploratory cohort study. Differences in HbA1c variability between sociodemographic groups were analyzed in 158 individuals. HbA1c variability was assessed as the standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) over five measured points, and a questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic factors. Results The results showed significantly higher HbA1c variability in men compared to women (mean difference 1.44 mmol/mol [95% CI: 0.58 to 2.31]), and significantly higher HbA1c variability in individuals with a BMI characterized as obese compared to individuals with a BMI characterized as normal weight (mean difference 1.56 mmol/mol [95% CI: 0.25 to 2.88]). There were no significant associations between HbA1c variability and civil status or education. Conclusions Men and individuals with obesity may be more vulnerable to future diabetic complications than other groups, since they have greater long-term glycemic variability.