Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the Scientific Affairs Division at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy held an in-person scientific seminar entitled “The relationship between iron deficiency anemia and glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetes patients “, delivered by pharmacist Zainab Hilal Abdulkadhim, the MSc student at the Clinical Pharmacy Department.
The seminar aimed to clarify the relationship between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, highlighting its impact on the accuracy of diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis and subsequent glycemic monitoring.
The seminar included several topics, including the impact of iron-deficiency anemia on the reliability of HbA1c measurements, the proposed mechanisms underlying falsely elevated HbA1c values, and the necessity of evaluating hematological status and iron-related risk factors prior to using HbA1c as a diagnostic indicator. Such considerations are essential to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and to enhance the overall quality of patient care.
The seminar concluded that HbA1c measurements may be unreliable in individuals with iron-deficiency anemia, underscoring the necessity of assessing iron status and overall hematological parameters before interpreting HbA1c values. Moreover, it highlighted the importance of appropriately correcting iron deficiency to improve diagnostic accuracy and to support informed, evidence-based clinical decision-making.
