We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

HospiMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News AI Critical Care Surgical Techniques Patient Care Health IT Point of Care Business Focus

Hemoglobin A1c Unrelated to Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 May 2018
Print article
A new study concludes that there is no clinically meaningful association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University (JHU; Baltimore, MD, USA) conducted a retrospective study involving 270 patients with a total of 584 DFUs treated at JHU during a 4.7-year period. The analysis assessed incidence of wound healing at any follow-up time, in relation to categories of baseline HbA1c and the incidence of long-term (over 90 days) wound healing. Tertiles of nadir HbA1c change and mean HbA1c change from baseline were measured, adjusting for potential confounders.

The results revealed that baseline HbA1c was not associated with wound healing. While a nadir change of 0.09 to 2.4 (third tertile) was positively associated with long-term wound healing in study participants with baseline HbA1c lower than 7.5%, no such association was seen with mean HbA1c change. Neither nadir HbA1c change nor mean HbA1c change were associated with long-term wound healing in participants with a baseline HbA1c higher than 7.5%. The study was published on April 16, 2018, in Diabetes Care.

“There does not appear to be a clinically meaningful association between baseline or prospective A1c and wound healing in patients with DFUs,” concluded lead author Betiel Fesseha, MD, of the JHU division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, and colleagues. “The paradoxical finding of accelerated wound healing and increase in hemoglobin A1c in participants with better baseline glycemic control requires confirmation in further studies.”

HbA1c refers to glycated hemoglobin, and is used to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. For people without diabetes, the normal HbA1c range is 4-5.6%. HbA1c levels between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate increased risk of diabetes, and levels of 6.5% or higher indicate diabetes. The goal for diabetics is HbA1c levels lower than 7%, which should be retested every three months to determine target level control.

Related Links:
Johns Hopkins University

Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Bronchoscope
EB-500

Print article

Channels

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The portable, handheld BeamClean technology inactivates pathogens on commonly touched surfaces in seconds (Photo courtesy of Freestyle Partners)

First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds

Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The Quantra Hemostasis System has received US FDA special 510(k) clearance for use with its Quantra QStat Cartridge (Photo courtesy of HemoSonics)

Critical Bleeding Management System to Help Hospitals Further Standardize Viscoelastic Testing

Surgical procedures are often accompanied by significant blood loss and the subsequent high likelihood of the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. These transfusions, while critical, are linked to various... Read more