Hyperglycemia-related mortality in critically ill patients varies with admission diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
Hyperglycemia during critical illness is common and is associated with increased mortality. Intensive insulin therapy has improved outcomes in some, but not all, intervention trials. It is unclear whether the benefits of treatment differ among specific patient populations. The purpose of the study was to determine the association between hyperglycemia and risk- adjusted mortality in critically ill patients and in separate groups stratified by admission diagnosis. A secondary purpose was to determine whether mortality risk from hyperglycemia varies with intensive care unit type, length of stay, or diagnosed diabetes.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-three U.S. medical, surgical, and cardiac intensive care units.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty-nine thousand and forty admissions from October 2002 to September 2005; unadjusted mortality rate, 11.2%.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
A two-level logistic regression model determined the relationship between glycemia and mortality. Age, diagnosis, comorbidities, and laboratory variables were used to calculate a predicted mortality rate, which was then analyzed with mean glucose to determine the association of hyperglycemia with hospital mortality. Hyperglycemia was associated with increased mortality independent of illness severity. Compared with normoglycemic individuals (70-110 mg/dL), adjusted odds of mortality (odds ratio, [95% confidence interval]) for mean glucose 111-145, 146-199, 200-300, and >300 mg/dL was 1.31 (1.26-1.36), 1.82 (1.74-1.90), 2.13 (2.03-2.25), and 2.85 (2.58-3.14), respectively. Furthermore, the adjusted odds of mortality related to hyperglycemia varied with admission diagnosis, demonstrating a clear association in some patients (acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, unstable angina, pulmonary embolism) and little or no association in others. Hyperglycemia was associated with increased mortality independent of intensive care unit type, length of stay, and diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between hyperglycemia and mortality implicates hyperglycemia as a potentially harmful and correctable abnormality in critically ill patients. The finding that hyperglycemia-related risk varied with admission diagnosis suggests differences in the interaction between specific medical conditions and injury from hyperglycemia. The design and interpretation of future trials should consider the primary disease states of patients and the balance of medical conditions in the intensive care unit studied.
Falciglia
Mercedes
M
Divisions of Endocrinology, Veterans Affairs Inpatient Evaluation Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Freyberg
Ron W
RW
Almenoff
Peter L
PL
D'Alessio
David A
DA
Render
Marta L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors