Glycated albumin beyond HbA1c: an equity-ready laboratory pathway for emergency diabetes and cardiorenal risk screening

Glycated albumin is gaining attention as a complementary biomarker for dysglycaemia, particularly when HbA1c interpretation is limited by altered erythrocyte survival, anaemia, haemoglobin variants, or chronic kidney disease. Building on the recent Clinica Chimica Acta study evaluating glycated albumin for emergency-department screening of undiagnosed prediabetes and diabetes, this correspondence argues for a broader equity-ready and cardiorenal-risk-aware implementation pathway. We propose a GA-PATH framework focused on population calibration, albumin-turnover safeguards, triage logic, harmonisation, and health-equity analytics. This approach may help transform glycated albumin from an alternative glycaemic marker into a context-aware laboratory tool for early detection, confirmatory referral, and global metabolic-risk prevention.