Association between hemoglobin A1c variability and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes

AimsWe examined the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variability and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes.MethodsWe used the multidetector coronary computed tomography data collected from subjects with type 2 diabetes who did not have a history of cardiovascular disease or angina symptoms. HbA1c measurements preceding the date of cardiac imaging were retrospectively collected, and intraindividual SD (HbA1c-SD), CV and adjusted SD of HbA1c measurements were calculated. Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was defined as calcium score > 400 without any cardiac symptoms.ResultsA total of 595 subjects were categorized according to the median value of each HbA1c variability indicators. The prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was higher in higher HbA1c variability group compared with lower HbA1c variability group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher HbA1c-SD and -CV were associated with the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, independent of mean HbA1c level in subjects with diabetes duration ≤ 10 years (OR [95% CI]; HbA1c-SD, 2.894 [1.105-7.584]; HbA1c-CV, 2.540 [1.022-6.316]).ConclusionsLong-term stabilization of blood glucose level might be important in preventing subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in subjects with earlier period of type 2 diabetes.