Association between serum uric acid and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case control study in Indian population

Description

Background and Aim: Uric acid is a pro-oxidant molecule that might be implicated in increasing oxidative stress and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Hence, the aim of the study was to assess serum uric acid and HbA1c level (an indicator of glycemic control) in these patients and speculate the association between the two.
Methods: 40 newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (20 males and 20 females) with age ranging between 35-70 years were statistically compared against 40 age and sex-matched healthy subjects with respect to their uric acid and HbA1c levels. Demographic data like the height and weight of patients was also recorded and statistically compared.
Results: No statistical difference in age, height and weight were observed in type 2 diabetes cases vs. controls indicating that the groups were comparable. HbA1c and uric acid levels of males and females with type 2 diabetes mellitus were significantly higher in comparison to normal males and females(controls). Correlation analysis showed a positive and significant correlation between HbA1c and uric acid levels in male and female cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Conclusion: Uric acid might have a role in the development or worsening of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, further studies are required with a larger sample size to clearly establish the relationship between uric acid and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus since studies in the literature have shown conflicting results and hence the understanding of the etiopathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus remains poorly understood with respect to uric acid.
Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus; uric acid, HbA1c; etiopathogenesis; correlation.