Do HbA1C Levels Correlate With Delayed Gastric Emptying in Diabetic Patients?

BACKGROUND/AIMS Gastroparesis is characterized by delayed gastric emptying without obstruction. Diabetes is frequently associated with poor glycemic control and delayed gastric emptying. Gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) is the standard for measuring gastric emptying. Serum hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) measures prolonged glycemic control with normal as < 7% glycated. To date, no correlation of serum HbA1C level with gastric emptying, demonstrated by GES, in diabetics has been performed. The aim of the present investigation is to determine if a relationship exists between serum HbA1C levels and gastric emptying, assessed by GES, in diabetics. METHODS All diabetics, having both GES and serum HbA1C level within 3 months from July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2008 were eligible for study. Demographic data collected included gender, age and ethnicity. Abnormal gastric emptying was defined as T½ > 120 minutes and serum HbA1C as percent glycated. RESULTS Nuclear Medicine GES database review revealed 431 examinations performed during the study interval. A total of 181 were not eligible due to the following: 29 duplicates, 22 diabetes not documented and 130 without HbA1C levels, resulting a study group of 250 cases. No significant correlation was observed between gastric emptying time, HbA1C or age. Among patients with HbA1C ≥ 7%, HbA1C was inversely related to age with a coefficient of correlation of r = -0.175 (p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS There is no correlation observed between gastric emptying time, using GES, and serum HbA1C levels. In diabetics, serum HbA1C is not as important as daily glycemic control regarding gastric emptying.