Kristina Jackson Behan1. 1. Program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Life and Health Sciences, University of West Florida, Pensacola 32514, USA. kbehan@uwf.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anemia is known to cause spurious hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) results. The effect of menstruation on HbA1c was tested by correlating it to FPG in non-anemic premenopausal and in menopausal women. METHOD: Non-diabetic, non-obese middle-aged Caucasian women were classified as premenopausal or menopausal. Hemogram, FPG, and A1c results were obtained. RESULTS: Hemoglobin concentrations were lower in the premenopausal group. FPG showed a poor correlation to A1c value overall (r = 0.251, p = 0.001) which was improved by multiplying the A1c % by the total hemoglobin concentration to create an absolute A1c value (r = 0.362, p = 0.000). When the data was sorted by menopause status, the correlation of FPG to Absolute A1c improved (r = 0.463, p = 0.000) in the menopausal women, but remained low (r = 0.283, p = 0.005) in the premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Menstruation may be a significant factor affecting the accuracy of A1c concentrations.
BACKGROUND:Anemia is known to cause spurious hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) results. The effect of menstruation on HbA1c was tested by correlating it to FPG in non-anemic premenopausal and in menopausal women. METHOD:Non-diabetic, non-obese middle-aged Caucasian women were classified as premenopausal or menopausal. Hemogram, FPG, and A1c results were obtained. RESULTS: Hemoglobin concentrations were lower in the premenopausal group. FPG showed a poor correlation to A1c value overall (r = 0.251, p = 0.001) which was improved by multiplying the A1c % by the total hemoglobin concentration to create an absolute A1c value (r = 0.362, p = 0.000). When the data was sorted by menopause status, the correlation of FPG to Absolute A1c improved (r = 0.463, p = 0.000) in the menopausal women, but remained low (r = 0.283, p = 0.005) in the premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Menstruation may be a significant factor affecting the accuracy of A1c concentrations.
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