Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels Linked to Higher In-Hospital Costs and Mortality

Strategic Insights -

During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers conducted a retrospective and cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital in Turkey to examine the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and in-hospital costs in hospitalized patients. The study, led by researchers from Cukurova University, aimed to draw attention to the issue and prepare for future pandemics. The analysis showed that patients with high HbA1c levels (>7%) had significantly higher in-hospital costs, prolonged hospital stays, and mortality rates compared to those with normal HbA1c levels. The study concluded that routine testing of HbA1c levels might be cost-effective and should be performed at primary healthcare facilities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 517 patients, with 96 having high HbA1c levels (HbA1c>7%).
  • High HbA1c levels were significantly correlated with higher in-hospital costs, prolonged hospital stays, and 30-day mortality rates.
  • Patients with high HbA1c levels (HbA1c>7%) had an average in-hospital cost of $4,559 compared to $2,331 for those with normal HbA1c levels.
  • Routine testing of HbA1c levels might be cost-effective and should be performed at primary healthcare facilities.
  • High HbA1c levels were more predictive of in-hospital costs than the diagnosis of diabetes.
  • The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital between March and December 2020.
  • The research was led by Aslihan Candevir and Yasemin Saygideger from Cukurova University.

Statistics:

  • 517 patients were included in the study, with 96 having high HbA1c levels (19.6%).
  • High HbA1c levels (HbA1c>7%) were associated with 2.96-fold higher in-hospital costs.
  • Patients with high HbA1c levels had a 24.3% prolonged hospital stay rate, compared to 12.5% for those with normal HbA1c levels.
  • The 30-day mortality rate for patients with high HbA1c levels was 21.4%, compared to 10.7% for those with normal HbA1c levels.

Sources:

  • The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (2025;19(09):1330-1335).
  • Cukurova University, Department of Translational Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences (Adana, Turkey).
  • NewsRx LLC (2025, October 21). New Blood Proteins Data Have Been Reported by Researchers at Cukurova University (Routine hemoglobin-A1c screening is required before the next pandemic to reduce morbidity and in-hospital costs). TB & Outbreaks Week. p 271.