Incidence and clinical relevance of hyperglycemia in critically ill dogs.
BACKGROUND
Hyperglycemia associated with critical illness in nondiabetic human patients is a common occurrence in the intensive care unit (ICU), with a reported incidence as high as 71%.


OBJECTIVE
Hyperglycemia in critically ill dogs increases the risk of morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-five dogs hospitalized in the ICU over a 2-month period were evaluated.


METHODS
Prospective observational study was conducted over a 2-month period. All dogs in the ICU had their highest daily blood glucose concentration recorded. All dogs with diabetes were excluded from the study. Hyperglycemia was defined as a blood glucose concentration >120 mg/dL. Dogs with hyperglycemia were monitored for persistence and resolution of hyperglycemia.


RESULTS
During the study period, 245 dogs were evaluated, of which 38 (16%) were hyperglycemic. Twenty-six percent (10/ 38) developed hyperglycemia during hospitalization, whereas 74% (28/38) were hyperglycemic at presentation. Length of hospitalization (LOH) was shorter in dogs that presented with hyperglycemia compared with those that developed hyperglycemia during hospitalization (P = .001). Seventy-one percent (27/38) of dogs were discharged from the hospital, whereas the remaining 29% (11/38) died or were euthanatized. Nonsurvivors had significantly higher median glucose concentration (median, 176 mg/dL; range 122-310 mg/dL) than did survivors (median, 139 mg/dL; 121-191 mg/dL; P = .021).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of hyperglycemia in this population of dogs was 16%. Dogs that developed hyperglycemia had longer LOH and nonsurvivors had more pronounced hyperglycemia than did survivors.
Torre
Danna M
DM
Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA.
deLaforcade
Armelle M
AM
Chan
Daniel L
DL
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001786:Blood Glucose