Comparison of HbA1c Levels in Diabetic Patients with and without Retinopathy

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of preventable blindness. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reflects long-term glycaemic control and is strongly associated with the risk of retinopathy. This study aimed to compare HbA1c levels in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Muzaffarnagar Medical College and Hospital over one year. A total of 180 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled and divided into two groups: 90 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR group) and 90 without retinopathy (Non-DR group). Clinical evaluation, fundoscopic examination, and HbA1c estimation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were performed. Data were analysed using SPSS v21; mean HbA1c levels were compared using the Student’s t-test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: The mean HbA1c level was significantly higher in the DR group (9.1 ± 1.4%) compared to the NonDR group (7.2 ± 1.1%; p < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients with diabetic retinopathy had HbA1c ≥9%. Longer duration of diabetes and older age were also associated with retinopathy. Conclusion: Poor glycaemic control, reflected by elevated HbA1c, is strongly associated with diabetic retinopathy. Regular monitoring of HbA1c and timely ophthalmological screening are essential to prevent vision-threatening complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.