Analytical Assesment of Fasting Blood Glucose and Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) for Glycemic Status Classification among Adults Undergoing Routine Laboratory Examination in Duhok, Iraq

The biochemical assessment of glucose metabolism is essential for the early identification of metabolic disorders, particularly prediabetes and diabetes mellitus. Fasting blood glucose (FBS) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) provide complementary biochemical information for evaluating glycemic status through routine clinical chemistry analysis. This study investigated the prevalence of abnormal glycemic status among adults and examined its association with sociodemographic characteristics using complementary analytical methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 600 adults aged ≥18 years undergoing routine laboratory examinations at Dr. Awny Laboratory in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, between September and December 2025. FBS concentrations were determined using a Cobas Pure c303 clinical chemistry analyzer, whereas HbA1c levels were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Glycemic status was classified according to the American Diabetes Association criteria, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, one-way analysis of variance, and chi-square tests. Of the 600 participants, 434 (72.3%) exhibited normal glycemic status, 127 (21.2%) had prediabetes, and 39 (6.5%) had diabetes mellitus, corresponding to an overall abnormal glycemic prevalence of 27.7%. Mean age increased significantly across the normal, prediabetes, and diabetes groups (25.3 ± 4.8, 37.5 ± 6.2, and 50.1 ± 7.1 years, respectively; p < 0.001). Age was independently associated with abnormal glycemic status (adjusted OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.06–1.09; p < 0.001), whereas gender showed no significant association. These findings demonstrate the practical relevance of automated biochemical glucose determination and HPLC-based HbA1c quantification for the biochemical assessment of glycemic abnormalities in routine laboratory settings. The integration of these analytical approaches provides complementary information for identifying individuals with impaired glucose regulation and highlights the importance of age-stratified biochemical screening for the early detection of metabolic disorders.