Are there better alternatives than haemoglobin A1c to estimate glycaemic control in the chronic kidney disease population?

BACKGROUND

Although measurement of haemoglobin A1c has become the cornerstone for diagnosing diabetes mellitus in routine clinical practice, the role of this biomarker in reflecting long-term glycaemic control in patients with chronic kidney disease has been questioned.

METHODS

Consensus review paper based on narrative literature review.

RESULTS

As a different association between glycaemic control and morbidity/mortality might be observed in patients with and without renal insufficiency, the European Renal Best Practice, the official guideline body of the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association, presents the current knowledge and evidence of the use of alternative glycaemic markers (glycated albumin, fructosamine, 1,5-anhydroglucitol and continuous glucose monitoring).

CONCLUSION

Although reference values of HbA1C might be different in patients with chronic kidney disease, it still remains the cornerstone as follow-up of longer term glycaemic control, as most clinical trials have used it as reference.