Greater HbA1c variability is associated with increased cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes patients with preserved renal function, but not in moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease

Emerging evidence suggests that glycemic variability may be a more reliable measure of glycemic control than mean HbA1c in type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to determine if HbA1c variability is associated with cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic patients and if different renal functions affect such association. This longitudinal study enrolled 8259 diabetic patients from the Kaohsiung Medical University Research Database in 2009 and were followed-up until 2015. Intra-individual HbA1C variability was defined as the standard deviation (SD) of HbA1c and cardiovascular events were defined as hospitalization for coronary artery disease, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and cardiovascular death. The patients were grouped into two based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 or < 60 min/ml/1.73m2. In a mean follow-up period of 6.3 years, cardiovascular events were recorded in 8.9% of the patients. In an adjusted Cox model, high HbA1c SD (hazard ratio, 1.290; 95% confidence interval, 1.008-1.650; p = 0.043), but not mean HbA1c, was associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with eGFR ≥ 60 min/ml/1.73m2. This association was not seen in patients with eGFR < 60 min/ml/1.73m2. In this study, greater HbA1c variability is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular among patients with preserved renal function, but not in those with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease.