Evidence mapPaperPMID 41192934Full record

Observational studyBMJ open diabetes research & care2025

Hemoglobin A1c time-in-range, mortality, and diabetes complications in older adults with diabetes.

Paul R Conlin, Julia C Prentice, David C Mohr, Libin Zhang, Donglin Li, Erin Pleasants, Richard E Nelson, Suma Vupputuri, Gregory A Nichols

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open diabetes research & care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Paul R ConlinVA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA paul.conlin@va.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5720-0466
Julia C PrenticeBetsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2620-3685
David C MohrNational Center for Organizational Development, US Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, Mason, Ohio, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3184-6338
Libin ZhangVA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA.
Donglin LiVA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA.
Erin PleasantsVA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA.
Richard E NelsonVA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Suma VupputuriMid-Atlantic Permanente Research Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Gregory A NicholsKaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Funding

HSRD VA I01 HX001870NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK114098
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHemoglobin A1c (A1c) treatment goals in older adults often consider life expectancy and comorbidities. A1c stability may also inform the risks of major outcomes. We studied the association of individualized A1c time-in-range (A1c TIR) with mortality and diabetes complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND

methodsWe conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of patients with diabetes, 65 years or older, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Kaiser Permanente (KP) from 2004 to 2018. Patients had at least four A1c tests during a 3-year baseline, and A1c TIR was calculated as the percentage of days when A1c levels were within patient-specific target ranges. We estimated associations among A1c TIR and mortality, cardiovascular, and microvascular outcomes using time to event models and instrumental variable (IV) models.

resultsWe identified 386 287 VA patients and 24 885 KP patients with a mean age of 74.3 years (SD 5.8) and 72.3 years (SD 5.7), respectively. Among VA patients, when compared with higher A1c TIR (80-100%), lower A1c TIR (0% to <20%) was associated with increased mortality (HR, 1.22; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.23) and cardiovascular outcomes (HR, 1.10; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.13). IV models showed similar associations. Among KP patients, lower A1c TIR (0% to <20%) was associated with mortality (HR, 1.36; 95% CI 1.27 to 1.45). IV models showed associations with increased mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. Among both VA and KP patients, greater A1c time below and time above range were associated with increased mortality.

conclusionsA1c stability within patient-specific target ranges is associated with a lower risk of major adverse outcomes among older adults with diabetes.

Indexed as

BiomarkersDiabetes ComplicationsDiabetes MellitusDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Glycated HemoglobinAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMalePrognosisRetrospective StudiesTime FactorsUnited StatesBiomarkersGlycated Hemoglobinhemoglobin A1c protein, humanDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Glycated Hemoglobin AMortality

Identifiers

PMID41192934
PMCPMC12587931

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.