Correlation between Sub-clinical hypothyroidism and Hemoglobin A1c in non-diabetic Patients; A case control study

Abstract

Aim: To assess correlation between Sub-clinical hypothyroidism and Hemoglobin A1c in non-diabetic individuals

Study Design: case control study

Place and duration: This study was conducted in, People's University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women Nawabshah Pakistan since May 2019 to May 2020

Methodology: A case-control study with a total of 200 individuals was performed in our hospital. In both case and control groups, 100 patients were assigned. Cases were non-diabetics individuals suffering from subclinical hypothyroidism. Controls were patients' family and friends who were age and sex-matched and were without subclinical hypothyroidism. To compare the demographic and biochemical parameters between cases and controls, an independent student's t-test was used. To determine the relationship between serum TSH and HbA1c, a Pearson correlation test was utilized.

Result: No significant association between cases and controls have been observed in terms of gender and Mean age. In the case and control groups, the mean serum TSH level was 7.13 ± 1.29 μIU/ml, and 2.51 ± 0.68 μIU/ml and  the mean HbA1c levels were 5.88 ± 0.41 and 5.09 ± 0.22, respectively (p-value of < 0.0001). Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed that the levels of serum TSH (U/L) and HbA1c in all study participants had a significantly positive correlation (r=0.551, p <0.001).

Conclusion: HbA1c values are higher in hypothyroid persons with subclinical hypothyroidism. The effects of increased serum TSH on the HbA1c must be taken into consideration when assessing the HbA1c for analysis of diabetes or pre-diabetes in subclinical hypothyroid individuals.