Association between Hb A(1c) and Severity of COVID-19 Patients

Unluguzel Ustun, Goksenin; Keskin, Adem; Aci, Recai; Arslanbek Erdem, Mukadder; Ari, Murat

This study aimed to examine the relationship between Hb A(1c) levels and the clinical course of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) patients. Sixty-six COVID-19(+) patients with high Hb A(1c) and 46 with average Hb A(1c) and 30 COVID-19(–) patients with average Hb A(1c) were included. Hb A(1c) levels and parameters examined in COVID-19(+) patients were compared between groups, and correlation analysis was performed between these parameters and Hb A(1c) levels. The effect of Hb A(1c) levels on intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients was analyzed with the χ(2) test. It was observed that hemoglobin (Hb) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) levels of the COVID-19 (+) groups was lower than the COVID-19 (–) group, while ferritin, D-dimer, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher. The COVID-19 (+) group with high Hb A(1c) had higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), PCT and D-dimer levels than the other two groups, while Hb, partial arterial oxygen pressure (PaO(2)) levels were lower. The Hb A(1c) levels of the COVID-19 (+) groups were positively correlated with absolute neutrophil count (ANC), LDH, PCT and (K(+)) levels, while negatively correlated with Hb and PaO(2) levels. Hb A(1c) was found to be associated with the inflammation process, coagulation disorders and low PaO(2) in COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 patients with high Hb A(1c) levels had a higher mortality rate than other COVID-19 patients. Using Hb A(1c) measurements with other prognostic markers would contribute to the patient’s risk of death assessment.