Positive Relationship of Platelet Volume Indices with HbA1c in Unselected Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of several platelet volume indices with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a large cohort of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted on 1,729 T2DM patients. The database was based on the laboratory information system of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shaoyang University from May 2017 to February 2018. These patients were divided into two subgroups depending on their platelet volume indices and HbA1c levels. RESULTS: Mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) were positively correlated with HbA1c levels (all p < 0.01), but not the thrombocytocrit (PCT). The platelet, MPV, PDW, P-LCR, and glucose levels were significantly higher in the higher HbA1c subgroup (≥ 6.5%) than that in lower subgroup (< 6.5%) (p < 0.01). The platelet, MPV, P-LCR, PCT, HbA1c, and glucose levels were significantly higher in higher PDW subgroup (≥ 17 fL) than that in lower subgroup (< 17 fL) (p < 0.01). In the higher MPV subgroup (≥ 12 fL), the platelet, PDW, P-LCR, PCT, HbA1c, and glucose levels were significantly higher than that in lower subgroup (< 12 fL) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These platelet volume indices were positively correlated with HbA1c in T2DM patients, which might provide potential new parameters to monitor glucose control.