Investigating the Effects of Gender and Marital Status on HbA1c Level
Location
Lions Eye Center
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
28-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
28-4-2025 1:30 PM
Description
Introduction: Glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) is a blood test that measures average blood sugar or glucose over the last several months. High blood glucose is associated with diabetes and other adverse health outcomes including heart disease, kidney disease, and neuropathy. A normal HbA1c level is below 5.7%, prediabetes is between 5.7%-6.4%, and diabetes is 6.5% or higher. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to examine the possible interaction of gender and marital status on glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Method: NHANES was used to extract data on the gender, marital status, and glycohemoglobin levels for 4,825 participants. Excel formulas including V-lookup and ANOVA were used to organize the data and determine the results. Results: Widowed/Divorced/Separated have a significantly higher glycohemoglobin level (mean = 6) than Never Married (mean = 5.59, p-value = 6.08E-14) and Married/Living with Partner (mean = 5.79, p-value = 1.77E-07). Males have a significantly higher glycohemoglobin level (mean = 5.86) compared to women (mean = 5.76, p-value = 0.0016). Widowed/Divorced/Separated males have a significantly higher glycohemoglobin level (mean = 6.15, inter p-value = <0.001) than all other groups. Discussion: Data collected shows significant results between gender and marital status on glycohemoglobin levels. Widowed/divorced/separated individuals and males were more likely to have higher glycohemoglobin levels. Widowed/Divorced/Separated males have the highest glycohemoglobin levels, resulting in increased diabetes rates among this population. Further research in sex-specific hormones may provide a better understanding and should be further investigated.
Recommended Citation
Malter, Emily, "Investigating the Effects of Gender and Marital Status on HbA1c Level" (2025). School of Allied Health Professions Research Day. 16.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/ahrd/2025/posters/16
Investigating the Effects of Gender and Marital Status on HbA1c Level
Lions Eye Center
Introduction: Glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) is a blood test that measures average blood sugar or glucose over the last several months. High blood glucose is associated with diabetes and other adverse health outcomes including heart disease, kidney disease, and neuropathy. A normal HbA1c level is below 5.7%, prediabetes is between 5.7%-6.4%, and diabetes is 6.5% or higher. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to examine the possible interaction of gender and marital status on glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Method: NHANES was used to extract data on the gender, marital status, and glycohemoglobin levels for 4,825 participants. Excel formulas including V-lookup and ANOVA were used to organize the data and determine the results. Results: Widowed/Divorced/Separated have a significantly higher glycohemoglobin level (mean = 6) than Never Married (mean = 5.59, p-value = 6.08E-14) and Married/Living with Partner (mean = 5.79, p-value = 1.77E-07). Males have a significantly higher glycohemoglobin level (mean = 5.86) compared to women (mean = 5.76, p-value = 0.0016). Widowed/Divorced/Separated males have a significantly higher glycohemoglobin level (mean = 6.15, inter p-value = <0.001) than all other groups. Discussion: Data collected shows significant results between gender and marital status on glycohemoglobin levels. Widowed/divorced/separated individuals and males were more likely to have higher glycohemoglobin levels. Widowed/Divorced/Separated males have the highest glycohemoglobin levels, resulting in increased diabetes rates among this population. Further research in sex-specific hormones may provide a better understanding and should be further investigated.