title: Hemoglobin A1c in Muscat, Oman - A 3 year study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) reflects the average blood glucose level during the previous 2-3 months. HbA1c is used as marker for long term blood glucose control in diabetic patients. In this retrospective study, the prevalence of diabetic control was evaluated from HbA1c tests of diabetic patients over a period of 3 years (January 2005-December 2007) from Muscat Region, Sultanate of Oman. Blood samples from a total number of 7442 patients were analysed at Al Nahdha Hospital Laboratory received from different Primary Health Care Centers and Hospitals of Muscat region as this hospital was the referral hospital for HbA1c testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  The method used for the estimation of HbA1c was Turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and the test was carried out in Hitachi 902 an automated chemistry analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that only 22.8% of patients had good glycemic control and 77.2% had bad glycemic control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic patients should be informed of the fact that maintaining HbA1c below 7% will minimize their risk of developing the complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory, Al- Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venugopal
authors.forename: Raseena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunju
authors.forename: Sheikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Harthy
authors.forename: Nafeesa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al Zadjali