Significance of HbA1c Test and Different Sociodemographic Factors in The Development of Complications in Type 1 Diabetes in Children.

Background Despite adequate treatment, about 50% of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) usually develop a serious complication during their lifetime. The level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reflects glycemic control, the screening of which is particularly helpful in community-based care settings where tests requiring fasting are not that practical. Objective To describe the difference in HbA1c level among a sample of children with T1DM and to identify the most common type of compilations and its association with HbA1c and different sociodemographic factors. Methods A cross sectional study, included 96 children with T1DM, their age ranged between 8-18 years, that attended Medical City Complex in Baghdad in the Pediatrics outpatients Clinic and Endocrine Outpatient Clinic during period from 1st of July 2021 to 30th of October 2021. Results Males formed 47.9%, 45.8% of them were in school age group, the mean HbA1c level was (10.74±2.974) mg/dl. Employed fathers formed 52.1%. Family history of T1DM was among 13.5% and that of T2DM was among 34.4%. Complication appeared among 71.9% of children, mainly neuropathy found among 50% of them. Children with retinopathy, positive family history have significantly poor controlled DM (last reading HbA1c =7 mg/dl). Conclusion HbA1c level in children with T1DM is found to be associated with family history, parents' education and employment, in addition a significant association with development of retinopathy in those children was also found in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]