Admission HbA1c and In-Stent Restenosis in CAD Patients After PCI

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 23, 2026 Medically reviewed April 24, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note an observational association between admission HbA1c and ISR after PCI; full data are needed before clinical application.

In a retrospective observational cohort of 6,297 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), investigators examined the association between admission glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and the incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR). Patients were stratified into three HbA1c categories, and the primary outcome was ISR diagnosis.

The study reported that 1,305 individuals were diagnosed with ISR, representing 20.72% of the cohort (1,305 out of 6,297). The direction of association between HbA1c categories and ISR risk was not reported, and no effect sizes, p-values, or confidence intervals were provided. The follow-up duration was not reported.

Safety and tolerability data, including adverse events, serious adverse events, and treatment discontinuations, were not reported. The study was limited by its retrospective design and the availability of only abstract-level results; full results and confidence intervals are not provided. Funding and conflicts of interest were not reported.

Given the observational nature of the data, this study reports an association, not causation. Specific HbA1c thresholds that may increase risk cannot be inferred without full data. Clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously, as the evidence does not establish causal relationships or inform specific clinical thresholds.

Study Details

Study typeCohort

EvidenceLevel 3

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

BackgroundThe association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and in-stent restenosis (ISR) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not well understood. We examined the association between HbA1c levels and ISR risk among CAD patients after PCI.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 6297 CAD patients following PCI. Patients were stratified into three groups based on admission HbA1c levels. The primary outcome was the incidence of ISR. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the association between HbA1c levels and ISR. We employed the generalized additive model (GAM) to examine potential relationships, with subsequent stratified analyses to evaluate the robustness of the main results and to test for effect modification by additional clinical variables.ResultsAmong this study participants, a total of 1305 individuals were diagnosed with ISR, representing 20.72% of the cohort. The distribution of participants across HbA1c categories, along with corresponding sample sizes and proportions, was as follows: HbA1c