Hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients: marker or mediator of mortality?
Acute hyperglycaemia has been associated with complications, prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay, and increased mortality. We made an inventory of the prevalence and prognostic value of hyperglycaemia, and of the effects of glucose control in different groups of critically ill patients. The prevalence of hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients, using stringent criteria, approaches 100%. An unambiguous negative correlation between hyperglycaemia and mortality has been described in various groups of critically ill patients. Although the available evidence remains inconsistent, there appears to be a favourable effect of glucose regulation. This effect on morbidity and mortality depends on patient characteristics. To be able to compare results of future studies involving glucose regulation, better definitions of hyperglycaemia (and consequently of normoglycaemia) and patient populations are needed.
Corstjens
Anouk M
AM
Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive & Respiratory Care Unit, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van der Horst
Iwan C C
IC
Zijlstra
Jan G
JG
Groeneveld
A B Johan
AB
Zijlstra
Felix
F
Tulleken
Jaap E
JE
Ligtenberg
Jack J M
JJ
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose